Shedding light on the circadian clock of the threespine stickleback.

ABSTRACT: The circadian clock is an internal timekeeping system shared by most organisms, and knowledge about its functional importance and evolution in natural environments is still needed. Here, we investigated the circadian clock of wild-caught threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) at the behavioural and molecular levels. Although their behaviour, ecology and evolution are well studied, information on their circadian rhythms are scarce. We quantified the daily locomotor activity rhythm under a light:dark cycle (LD) and under constant darkness (DD). Under LD, all fish exhibited significant daily rhythmicity, while under DD, only 18% of individuals remained rhythmic. This interindividual variation suggests that the circadian clock controls activity only in certain individuals. Moreover,

SUBMITTER: Brochu MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8729910 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature