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Circadian rhythm in larval release by the crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii: entrainment model.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Forward, RB; Moeller, BP; Cohen, JH
Published in: The Biological bulletin
April 2014

The subtidal crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii has a circadian rhythm in larval release; under constant conditions eggs hatch in the 2-3-h interval after the time of sunset in nontidal estuaries. Eggs that are removed from the female hatch rhythmically, indicating that the circadian rhythm resides in the embryos. The model for entrainment is that mature embryos have functional sensory systems that detect and entrain to environmental cycles. This model was reexamined by confirming that the visual system of advanced embryos responds to light and thus could mediate entrainment to the light/dark cycle. We then determined whether the hatching rhythm of mature embryos that are removed from the female can be entrained to new light/dark cycles. Contrary to expectations, these embryos did not entrain to new cycles. Instead, they remained entrained to the light/dark cycle to which they were exposed when still attached to the female, suggesting that the female entrains the rhythm. Indeed, hatching by embryos collected from the field when they had not yet developed eye pigments, kept in constant conditions attached to their mother, exhibited the circadian hatching rhythm. They could also be entrained to a new photoperiod in the laboratory. The role of the female is further supported by experiments showing that the hatching rhythm in embryos carried by females lacking one but not both eyes can be entrained to a new cycle in the laboratory. Thus, the revised model is that the female perceives the light/dark cycle and entrains the circadian rhythm in the embryos.

Duke Scholars

Published In

The Biological bulletin

DOI

EISSN

1939-8697

ISSN

0006-3185

Publication Date

April 2014

Volume

226

Issue

2

Start / End Page

92 / 101

Related Subject Headings

  • Models, Animal
  • Light
  • Larva
  • Female
  • Circadian Rhythm
  • Brachyura
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Animals
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
 

Citation

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Forward, R. B., Moeller, B. P., & Cohen, J. H. (2014). Circadian rhythm in larval release by the crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii: entrainment model. The Biological Bulletin, 226(2), 92–101. https://doi.org/10.1086/bblv226n2p92
Forward, Richard B., Bianca P. Moeller, and Jonathan H. Cohen. “Circadian rhythm in larval release by the crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii: entrainment model.The Biological Bulletin 226, no. 2 (April 2014): 92–101. https://doi.org/10.1086/bblv226n2p92.
Forward RB, Moeller BP, Cohen JH. Circadian rhythm in larval release by the crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii: entrainment model. The Biological bulletin. 2014 Apr;226(2):92–101.
Forward, Richard B., et al. “Circadian rhythm in larval release by the crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii: entrainment model.The Biological Bulletin, vol. 226, no. 2, Apr. 2014, pp. 92–101. Epmc, doi:10.1086/bblv226n2p92.
Forward RB, Moeller BP, Cohen JH. Circadian rhythm in larval release by the crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii: entrainment model. The Biological bulletin. 2014 Apr;226(2):92–101.
Journal cover image

Published In

The Biological bulletin

DOI

EISSN

1939-8697

ISSN

0006-3185

Publication Date

April 2014

Volume

226

Issue

2

Start / End Page

92 / 101

Related Subject Headings

  • Models, Animal
  • Light
  • Larva
  • Female
  • Circadian Rhythm
  • Brachyura
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Animals
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences