Abstract
Daytime light intensity can affect the photoperiodic regulation of the reproductive cycle in birds. The actual way by which light intensity information is transduced is, however, unknown. We postulate that transduction of the light intensity information is mediated by changes in the pattern of melatonin secretion. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of high and low daytime light intensities on the daily melatonin rhythm of Afro-tropical stonechats (Saxicola torquata axillaris) in which seasonal changes in daytime light intensity act as a zeitgeber of the circannual rhythms controlling annual reproduction and molt. Stonechats were subjected to light conditions simulated as closely as possible to native conditions near the equator. Photoperiod was held constant at 12.25 h of light and 11.75 h of darkness per day. At intervals of 2.5 to 3.5 weeks, daytime light intensity was changed from bright (12,000 lux at one and 2,000 lux at the other perch) to dim (1,600 lux at one and 250 lux at the other perch) and back to the original bright light. Daily plasma melatonin profiles showed that they were linked with changes in daytime light intensity: Nighttime peak and total nocturnal levels were altered when transitions between light conditions were made, and these changes were significant when light intensity was changed from dim to bright. We suggest that daytime light intensity could affect seasonal timing via changes in melatonin profiles.
References
Arendt J (1995) Melatonin and the mammalian pineal gland. Chapman and Hall, London
Dittami J, Gwinner E (1985) Annual cycles in the African stonechat Saxicola torquata axillaris and their relationships to environmental factors. J Zool Lond A 207:357–370
Fraser S, Cowen P, Franklin M, Franey C, Arendt J (1983) Direct radioimmunoassay for melatonin in plasma. Clin Chem 29:396–397
Fusani L, Gwinner E (2004) Simulation of migratory flight and stopover affects night levels of melatonin in a nocturnal migrant. Proc R Soc Lond B 271:205–211
Gwinner E, Dittami J (1990) Endogenous reproductive rhythms in a tropical bird. Science 249:906–908
Gwinner E, Scheuerlein A (1998) Seasonal changes in day-light intensity as a potential zeitgeber of circannual rhythms in equatorial stonechats. J Ornithol 139:407–412
Gwinner E, Subbaraj R, Bluhm CK, Gerkema M (1987) Differential effects of pinealectomy on circadian rhythms of feeding and perch-hopping in the European starling. J Biol Rhythms 2:109–120
Gwinner E, Schwabl-Benzinger I, Schwabl H, Dittami J (1993) Twenty-four hour melatonin profiles in a nocturnally migrating bird during and between migratory seasons. Gen Comp Endocrinol 90:119–124
Kumar V (2001) Melatonin and circadian rhythmicity in birds. In: Dawson A, Chaturvedi CM (eds) Avian endocrinology. Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, pp 93–112
Kumar V, Follett BK (1993) The circadian nature of melatonin secretion in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). J Pineal Res 14:192–200
Kumar V, Gwinner E (2005) Pinealectomy shortens resynchronisation times of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) circadian rhythms. Naturwissenschaften 92:419–422
Kumar V, Gwinner E, Van’t Hof TJ (2000) Circadian rhythms of melatonin in the European starlings exposed to different lighting conditions: relationship with locomotor and feeding rhythms. J Comp Physiol A 186:205–215
Kumar V, Singh S, Misra M, Malik S, Rani S (2002) Role of melatonin in photoperiodic time measurement in the migratory redheaded bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) and the non-migratory Indian weaver bird (Ploceus philippinus). J Exp Zool 292:277–286
Miche F, Vivien-Roels B, Pevet P, Spehner C, Robin JP, Le Maho Y (1991) Daily patterns of melatonin secretion in an Antarctic bird, the emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri: seasonal variations, effect of constant illumination and of administration of isoproterenol or propranol. Gen Comp Endocrinol 84:249–263
Odum HT (1947) The possible effect of cloud cover on bird migration in central America. Auk 64:316–317
Picazo RA, Lincoln GA (1995) Light control of the duration of the daily melatonin signal under long and short days in the Soay ram. Role of inhibition and entrainment. J Biol Rhythms 10:55–63
Reierth E, Van’t Hof TJ, Stokkan K-A (1999) Seasonal and daily variations in plasma melatonin in the high Arctic Svalbard ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus hyperboreus). J Biol Rhythms 14:314–319
Tarlow EM, Hau M, Anderson DJ, Wikelski M (2003) Diel changes in plasma melatonin and corticosterone concentrations in tropical Nazca boobies (Sula granti) in relation to moon light and age. Gen Comp Endocrinol 133:297–304
Acknowledgment
The experiments were carried out at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Andechs, Germany, and comply with German laws. Visits of V.K., S.M., and A.K.T. were supported by a DST–DAAD personnel-based exchange program grant. We are grateful to Dr. Patricia J. DeCoursey and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Professor Dr. E. Gwinner died on 07 September 2004.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kumar, V., Rani, S., Malik, S. et al. Daytime light intensity affects seasonal timing via changes in the nocturnal melatonin levels. Naturwissenschaften 94, 693–696 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-007-0243-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-007-0243-1