Activity rhythms in littoral Acari under laboratory conditions

Under experimental conditions, endogenous activity rhythms were found among several species of the terrestrial moiety of the littoral Acari. These rhythms correlated with both circatidal (semidiurnal) and photoperiod/temperature (diurnal) cycles. In non-littoral species, only diurnal cycles were obs...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology 1986, Vol.100 (1), p.37-45
Main Authors: Pugh, P.J.A., King, P.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acari
activity
Arachnida
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Halacaridae
Invertebrates
littoral
Marine
Physiology. Development
rhythm
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Summary:Under experimental conditions, endogenous activity rhythms were found among several species of the terrestrial moiety of the littoral Acari. These rhythms correlated with both circatidal (semidiurnal) and photoperiod/temperature (diurnal) cycles. In non-littoral species, only diurnal cycles were observed. Under similar experimental conditions, members of the aquatic moiety, i.e. the family Halacaridae, showed no activity cycles, and it is thought that in these mites activity may be exogenous. It is suggested that the possession of endogenous activity cycles among the terrestrial moiety is an adaptation to prevent inundation and dislodgement by wave action, and that the aquatic moiety, which are permanently immersed, require no such adaptation, and rely upon exogenously triggered activity patterns.
ISSN:0022-0981
1879-1697
DOI:10.1016/0022-0981(86)90154-1