ABSTRACT
The study focused on the characteristics of circadian locomotor activity in the spiny eel, M. pancalus, kept under different photoperiodic conditions. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 tested the light intensity dependent effect on circadian rhythmicity of the locomotor activity in spiny eel. Three groups of fish were entrained to 12L:12D conditions for 10 days. Thereafter, they were released to constant conditions for 15 days as indicated below: group 1-DD (0 lux), group 2- LLdim (~1 lux) and group 3-LLbright (~500 lux). The locomotor activity of the fish, housed singly in an aquarium, was recorded continuously with infrared sensors connected to a computer. More than 90% activity of the eels was confined to the dark hours suggesting nocturnal habit. Under constant conditions, the activity in 7/9 fish in group 1, 4/8 in group 2 and 3/8 in group 3, started free running with a mean circadian period of 24.48 ± 0.17 h, 23.21 ± 0.47 h and 25.54 ± 1.13 h in respective groups. Remaining fish in each group became arrhythmic. This suggests that spiny eel can be synchronised to LD cycle and under constant conditions they free run with a circadian period. However, their activity under LL is light intensity dependent; higher the intensity, more disruption in circadian locomotor activity. Experiment 2 was conducted to study the effect of decreasing night length (increasing photoperiod) on circadian locomotor activity. The fish were sequentially exposed to 16D (8L:16D), 12D (12L:12D), 8D (16L:8D), 4D (20L:4D) and 2D (22L:2D) for 10 days in each condition, thereafter, they were released in constant dark (DD= 0lux). The results showed that the duration of night length affects both, the amplitude and duration of locomotor activity. It can be concluded that the spiny eels are nocturnal and that their locomotor activity is under the circadian control and may be influenced by the photoperiod.
Subject(s)
Actigraphy , Animals , Behavior, Animal/physiology , Behavior, Animal/radiation effects , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Circadian Rhythm/radiation effects , Eels/physiology , Female , Male , Motor Activity/physiology , Motor Activity/radiation effects , PhotoperiodABSTRACT
Circadian (locomotor activity/perching) behaviour of the weaverbird (Ploceus philippinus) under different light intensities was studied. Six groups of birds were subjected to 12L:12D (L = 1000 and 10 lux and D = 0.3 lux) for two weeks, and thereafter released into constant dim illumination (LLdim = 0.3 lux). After two weeks of LLdim, birds were given a 2 h light pulse of 1000 lux at circadian time (CT) 12, 17 and 20, and exposure of LLdim was continued for another two weeks and the activity pattern was monitored. As expected, all birds were entrained under 12L:12D showing dense-activity in the group that was placed under light phase of 1000 lux. Under LLdim birds exhibited circadian activity rhythms with periods longer or shorter than 24 h. Light pulse at CT 12 caused small delay shift in the activity phase, but a larger delay in phase shift occurred when the pulse was given at CT 17. A pulse at CT 20 caused small advanced phase shift. Thus, photoperiodic weaverbird appears to show circadian system regulated behaviour as seen by activity-rest pattern under programmed light cycles.
Subject(s)
Actigraphy , Animals , Behavior, Animal/physiology , Behavior, Animal/radiation effects , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Circadian Rhythm/radiation effects , Light , Male , Motor Activity/radiation effects , Passeriformes/physiology , PhotoperiodABSTRACT
El experimento se realizó en el Rancho Las Animas ubicado en el municipio de Tuxtla Chico, Chiapas, México, con el objetivo de estimar la interacción del retraso del amamantamiento con la presencia o ausencia del toro como estrategia para reducir el periodo de parto-concepción en 40 vacas Pardo Suizo puras, sometidas a manejo de doble propósito. Se utilizó un diseño completamente al azar con cuatro tratamientos y diez repeticiones con un arreglo factorial con dos factores en dos niveles, siendo el tipo de amamantamiento (tradicional o retrasado) y la presencia o ausencia del toro los factores. La comparación de medias se realizó con la prueba de Tukey. Los tratamientos fueron: amamantamiento tradicional sin toro (AT-ST; n=10), amamantamiento tradicional con toro (AT+T; n=10), amamantamiento retrasado sin toro (AR-ST; n=10) y amamantamiento retrasado con toro (AR+T; n=10). Se encontró que AR+T reduce (P<0,05) el intervalo parto- concepción a 84±10,19 días comparado con 100±13,35, 190±34,84 y 156±20,63 días para AR-ST, AT+T y AT-ST, respectivamente. Por lo tanto, se concluye que practicar el retraso del amamantamiento (30 min.) ocho horas después del ordeño y exponer las vacas al toro desde los siete días posparto, puede ser una alternativa para reducir el anestro posparto e incrementar la eficiencia reproductiva en el sistema doble propósito.
The experiment was carried out in Las Animas ranch located in Tuxtla Chico Municipality, Chiapas, Mexico, in order to estimate the interaction between retarded suckling and sire presence used as a strategy for reducing the time between calving and conception in 40 pure Brown Swiss cows under dual purpose system. A completely randomized design was used, with four treatments and ten repetitions with a factorial arrangement with two factors in two levels, being type of suckling (traditional and retarded) and sire presence and absence, comparison of means was done with Tukey test. Treatments were; T1 (n=10): Traditional suckling without sire presence (AT-ST), T2(n=10): traditional suckling with sire presence (AT+T), T3(n=10): retarded suckling without sire presence (AR-ST) and T4(n=10): retarded suckling with sire presence (AR+T). Results showed that AR+T reduced (P<0.05) the calving-conception interval to 84±10.19 days compared with 100±13.35, 190±34.84 y 156±20.63 days for AR-T, AT+T and AT-T respectively. It is therefore concluded that the combined practice of suckling retarded (30 minutes) eight hours after milking and exposing the cows to the sire as of seven days after calving could be an alternative to reduce post-partum anestrus and increasing reproductive efficiency in dual purpose system.