Abstract
Examples are presented of nocturnal animals becoming diurnal or vice versa as a result of mutations, genetic manipulations, or brain lesions. Understanding these cases could give insight into mechanisms employed when switches of temporal niche occur as part of the life cycle, or in response to circumstances such as availability of food. A two-process account of niche switching is advocated, involving both a change in clock-controlled outputs and a change in the direct response to light (i.e. masking). An emerging theme from this review is the suggestion that retinal inputs have a greater role in switching than suspected previously.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1011-1024 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology |
Volume | 191 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2005 |
Keywords
- Diurnal
- Masking
- Melanopsin
- Nocturnal
- Rhythms
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Physiology
- Animal Science and Zoology
- Behavioral Neuroscience