| Circadian regulation of bioluminescence in the prey-luring glowworm, Arachnocampa flava. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 18663239 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The glowworms of New Zealand and Australia are bioluminescent fly larvae that generate light to attract prey into their webs. Some species inhabit the constant darkness of caves as well as the dim, natural photophase of rain-forests. Given the diversity of light regimens experienced by glowworms in their natural environment, true circadian rhythmicity of light output could be present. Consequently the light emission characteristics of the Australian subtropical species Arachnocampa flava, both in their natural rainforest habitat and in artificial conditions in the laboratory, were established. Larvae were taken from rainforest and kept alive in individual containers. When placed in constant darkness (DD) in the laboratory they maintained free-running, cyclical light output for at least 28 days, indicating that light output is regulated by an endogenous rhythm. The characteristics of the light emission changed in DD: individuals showed an increase in the time spent glowing per day and a reduction in the maximum light output. Most individuals show a free-running period greater than 24 h. Manipulation of the photophase and exposure to skeleton photoperiods showed that light acts as both a masking and an entraining agent and suggests that the underlying circadian rhythm is sinusoidal in the absence of light-based masking. Manipulation of thermoperiod in DD showed that temperature cycles are an alternative entraining agent. Exposure to a period of daily feeding in DD failed to entrain the rhythm in the laboratory. The endogenous regulation of luminescence poses questions about periodicity and synchronization of bioluminescence in cave glowworms. |
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Authors:
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David J Merritt; Sakiko Aotani |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of biological rhythms Volume: 23 ISSN: 0748-7304 ISO Abbreviation: J. Biol. Rhythms Publication Date: 2008 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-07-29 Completed Date: 2008-10-08 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8700115 Medline TA: J Biol Rhythms Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 319-29 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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School of Integrative Biology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. d.merritt@uq.edu.au |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Circadian Rhythm / physiology* Darkness Fireflies / classification, physiology* Larva / physiology Light Luminescence* Predatory Behavior Temperature |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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