Possible natural circaseptan rhythm in the beach beetle Chaerodes trachyscelides White

• Authors: V.B. Meyer-Rochow , P.J. Brown

Abstracts

EN

Activity rhythms in groups of captive beach beetles (Chaerodes trachyscelides White) have been recorded in an actograph over a period of 29 days. Under constant illumination and when no sand was provided for the beetles to burrow in abnormal behaviour occurred. With sand and in constant darkness a strictly nocturnal activity period with apparently circaseptan components superimposed was observed. The beetles in their natural habitat are confined to the debris zone where they feed on washed up seaweed and this debris zone moves up and down depending on the heights of the tides. Circaseptan elements in the beetles' activity may act as adaptations to the weekly alternations between spring- and neap-tides.

Keywords

EN

BIORHYTHM; CHAERODES TRACHYSCELIDES; FEEDING; TENEBRIONIDAE

Discipline

• EXPERIMENTAL_BIOLOGY_&_MEDICINE: EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY & MEDICINE

• Publisher: Marceli Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis
• Year: 1998
• Volume: 58
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 287-290

Contributors

author

V.B. Meyer-Rochow

author

P.J. Brown

• Publication order reference: V. B.Meyer-Rochow, Institute of Bio-Medical Sciences, Department of Histology and Embryology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 21941-590 Ilha do Fundao, R.J., Brazil; Email: [e-mail]