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Seasonal phase shift and the duration of activity time in the Burbot,Lota lota (L.) (Pisces, Gadidae)

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Summary

The locomotor activity of the Burbot (Lota lota L.) performs a phase-shift of 180 ° towards the Zeitgeber (natural light-dark-cycle) twice a year at high northern latitudes (Messaure, Swedish-Lapland, 66 ° 42′ N, 20 ° 25′ E). The duration of activity in 24 hours never exceeds 11 hours. Maximum values are achieved just before the phase-shift in September/October and in February respectively. It is suggested that this fish species, frequently spread in North-European waters, has a maximum limit in its daily activity time (10 to 11 hours) controlled by phase-shift when the length of day (during day-activity) or night (during night-activity) becomes too long. In the course of the year the Burbot places the position of its activity on the shorter part of the light-dark-cycle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Messaure Biological Station, Messaure

    Karl Müller

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  1. Karl Müller
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Supported by Swedish Natural Science Research Council and Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften.

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Müller, K. Seasonal phase shift and the duration of activity time in the Burbot,Lota lota (L.) (Pisces, Gadidae). J. Comp. Physiol. 84, 357–359 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696347

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696347

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