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Phase resetting and phase singularity of an insect circannual oscillator

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Abstract

In circadian rhythms, the shape of the phase response curves (PRCs) depends on the strength of the resetting stimulus. Weak stimuli produce Type 1 PRCs with small phase shifts and a continuous transition between phase delays and advances, whereas strong stimuli produce Type 0 PRCs with large phase shifts and a distinct break point at the transition between delays and advances. A stimulus of an intermediate strength applied close to the break point in a Type 0 PRC sometimes produces arrhythmicity. A PRC for the circannual rhythm was obtained in pupation of the varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci, by superimposing a 4-week long-day pulse (a series of long days for 4 weeks) over constant short days. The shape of this PRC closely resembles that of the Type 0 PRC. The present study shows that the PRC to 2-week long-day pulses was Type 1, and that a 4-week long-day pulse administered close to the PRC’s break point induced arrhythmicity in pupation. It is, therefore, suggested that circadian and circannual oscillators share the same mode in phase resetting to the stimuli.

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Abbreviations

LD:

Light/dark

PRC:

Phase response curve

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, 558-8585, Japan

    Yosuke Miyazaki & Hideharu Numata

  2. School of Environmental Science, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone, 522-8533, Japan

    Tomoyosi Nisimura

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  1. Yosuke Miyazaki
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  2. Tomoyosi Nisimura
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  3. Hideharu Numata
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Correspondence to Hideharu Numata.

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Miyazaki, Y., Nisimura, T. & Numata, H. Phase resetting and phase singularity of an insect circannual oscillator. J Comp Physiol A 193, 1169–1176 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-007-0270-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-007-0270-6

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