Summary
-
1.
Photoperiodic induction of diapause inNasonia vitripennis andSarcophaga argyrostoma was shown to be different in a number of respects. InN. vitripennis induction proceeds to “completion” in continuous darkness after an initial five short-day (long-night) cycles, and can be accomplished in the total absence of light by the use of daily temperature cycles, or thermoperiods.S. argyrostoma, on the other hand, requires repeated exposures to short-day (long-night) cycles for “full” induction, and thermoperiods in the absence of light are apparently ineffective. Furthermore, inS. argyrostoma periods of CO2 and N2 anaesthesia applied during the light and the dark portions of the daily cycle underlined the central importance of night-length measurement, whereas periods of chilling inN. vitripennis had previously shown light and dark to be of equal importance.
-
2.
These results are considered to be consistent with two current models for the photoperiodic clock: internal coincidence (N. vitripennis) and external coincidence (S. argyrostoma), although none of the experimental results offersunequivocal evidence for this conclusion.
-
3.
The apparent diversity of insect photoperiodic clocks is examined, particularly in terms of Pittendrigh's “extended circadian surfaces”. It is considered likely that the apparent diversity is a product of evolutionary divergence from a common ancestral mechanism with its basis in circadian rhythmicity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adkinson, P.L.: Action of the photoperiod in controlling insect diapause. Am. Nat.98, 357–374 (1964)
Adkinson, P.L.: Internal clocks and insect diapause. Science154, 234–241 (1966)
Beach, R.F., Craig, G.B. Jr.: Night length measurement by the circadian clock controlling diapause induction in the mosquitoAëdes atropalpus. J. Insect Physiol.23, 865–870 (1977)
Beck, S.D.: Photoperiodic induction of diapause in an insect. Biol. Bull.122, 1–12 (1962)
Bowen, M.F., Skopik, S.D.: Insect Photoperiodism: The “T experiment” as evidence for an hour-glass mechanism. Science192, 59–60 (1976)
Bünning, E.: Die endogene Tagesrhythmik als Grundlage der Photoperiodischen Reaktion. Ber. dt. bot. Ges.54, 590–607 (1936)
Bünning, E.: Common features of photoperiodism in plants and animals. Photochem. Photobiol.9, 219–228 (1969)
Dickson, R.C.: Factors governing the induction of diapause in the oriental fruit moth. Ann. ent. Soc. Am.42, 511–537 (1949)
Dumortier, B., Brunnarius, J.: Existence d'une composante circadienne dans l'induction thermopériodique de la diapause chezPieris brassicae L. C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris285, 361–364 (1977)
Elliott, J.H., Stetson, M.H., Menaker, M.: Regulation of testis function in golden hamsters: a circadian clock measures photoperiodic time. Science178, 771–773 (1972)
Hamner, K.C.: Photoperiodism and circadian rhythms. Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol.25, 269–277 (1960)
Hamner, W.M.: Diurnal rhythms and photoperiodism in testicular recrudescence of the house finch. Science142, 1294–1295 (1963)
Hamner, W.M.: Circadian control of photoperiodism in the house finch demonstrated by interrupted-night experiments. Nature (Lond.)203, 1400–1401 (1964)
Hamner, W.M.: Hour-glass dusk and rhythmic dawn timers control diapause in the codling moth. J. Insect Physiol.15, 1499–1504 (1969)
Lees, A.D.: The significance of the light and dark phases in the photoperiodic control of diapause inMetatetranychus ulmi Koch. Ann. appl. Biol.40, 487–497 (1953)
Lees, A.D.: Photoperiodic timing mechanisms in insects. Nature (Lond.)210, 986–989 (1966)
Lees, A.D.: Photoperiodic time measurement in the aphidMegoura viciae. J. Insect Physiol.19, 2279–2316 (1973)
Pittendrigh, C.S.: Circadian rhythms and the circadian organization of living systems. Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol.25, 159–184 (1960)
Pittendrigh, C.S.: On the mechanism of entrainment of a circadian rhythm by light cycles. In: Circadian clocks (ed. J. Aschoff), pp. 277–297. Amsterdam: North Holland 1965
Pittendrigh, C.S.: The circadian oscillation inDrosophila pseudoobscura pupae: a model for the photoperiodic clock. Z. Pflanzenphysiol.54, 275–307 (1966)
Pittendrigh, C.S.: Circadian surfaces and the diversity of possible roles of circadian organizatiom in photoperiodic induction. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA69, 2734–2737 (1972)
Pittendrigh, C.S.: Circadian oscillations in cells and the circadian organization of multioscillator systems. In: The neurosciences, third study program (ed. F.O. Schmitt, F.G. Worden), pp. 437–458. Boston: M.I.T. Press 1974
Pittendrigh, C.S., Eichhorn, J.H., Minis, D.H., Bruce, V.G.: Circadian systems VI. Photoperiodic time measurement inPectinophora gossypiella. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA66, 758–764 (1970)
Pittendrigh, C.S., Minis, D.H.: The entrainment of circadian oscillation by light and their role as photoperiodic clocks. Am. Nat.98, 261–294 (1964)
Pittendrigh, C.S., Minis. D.H.: The photoperiodic time measurement inPectinophora gossypiella and its relation to the circadian system in that species. In: Biochronometry, pp. 215–250 (ed. M. Menaker). Washington: National Academy of Sciences 1971
Saunders, D.S.: Larval diapause induced by a maternally-operating photoperiod. Nature (Lond.)206, 739–740 (1965)
Saunders, D.S.: Larval diapause of maternal origin— II. The effect of photoperiod and temperature onNasonia vitripennis. J. Insect Physiol.12, 569–581 (1966)
Saunders, D.S.: Time measurement in insect photoperiodism: reversal of a photoperiodic effect by chilling. Science156, 1126–1127 (1967)
Saunders, D.S.: Photoperiodism and time measurement in the parasitic wasp,Nasonia vitripennis. J. Insect Physiol.14, 433–450 (1968)
Saunders, D.S.: Circadian clock in insect photoperiodism. Science168, 601–603 (1970)
Saunders, D.S.: The temperature-compensated photoperiodic clock “programming” development and pupal diapause in the flesh-fly,Sarcophaga argyrostoma. J. Insect Physiol.17, 801–812 (1971)
Saunders, D.S.: The photoperiodic clock in the flesh-fly,Sarcophaga argyrostoma. J. Insect Physiol.19, 1941–1954 (1973a)
Saunders, D.S.: Thermoperiodic control of diapause in an insect: theory of internal coincidence. Science181, 358–360 (1973b)
Saunders, D.S.: Evidence for “dawn” and “dusk” oscillators in theNasonia photoperiodic clock. J. Insect Physiol.20, 77–88 (1974)
Saunders, D.S.: “Skeleton” photoperiods and the control of diapause and development in the flesh-fly,Sarcophaga argyrostoma. J. comp. Physiol.97, 97–112 (1975)
Saunders, D.S.: The circadian eclosion rhythm inSarcophaga argyrostoma: some comparisons with the photoperiodic clock. J. comp. Physiol.110, 111–133 (1976)
Saunders, D.S.: An experimental and theoretical analysis of photoperiodism in the flesh-fly,Sarcophaga argyrostoma. J. comp. Physiol.124, 75–95 (1978)
Skopik, S.D., Bowen, M.F.: Insect photoperiodism: An hour-glass measures photoperiodic time inOstrinia nubilalis. J. comp. Physiol.111, 249–259 (1976)
Thiele, H.U.: Measurement of day-length as a basis for photoperiodism and annual periodicity in the carabid beetlePterostichus nigrita F. Oecologia30, 331–348 (1977)
Tyshchenko, V.P.: Two-oscillatory model of the physiological mechanism of insect photoperiodic reaction. Zhur. Obshch. Biol.27, 209–222 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to Professor Colin S. Pittendrigh on the occasion of his 60th birthday
The author would like to thank Mrs. Helen MacDonald for technical assistance, and the Science Research Council for financial support. Some of the experimental data are drawn from work carried out by Miss Marnie Peace for her B.Sc. thesis.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saunders, D.S. Internal and external coincidence and the apparent diversity of photoperiodic clocks in the insects. J. Comp. Physiol. 127, 197–207 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01350110
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01350110