Chronoecology: New Light Through Old Windows — A Conclusion

Abstract

After presenting some introductory material, in the first section of this book, we provided some theoretical considerations that relate individual activity patterns of small mammals to physiological constraints (Chap. 3), and to ecological aspects of temporal behaviour (Chap. 4). The theoretical section also provided a general background to biological rhythms and biological clocks (Chap. 2). The other main section of the book surveyed our current knowledge of activity patterns in various small mammal groups as based on empirical findings. In this concluding chapter we, as the editors, want to provide a synthesis of the information presented in the previous 14 chapters. In doing so we will try to concentrate on the general features in — and behind — the various approaches to activity patterns by a comparison among small mammal species. We would like this synthesis to serve as a baseline to clarify where we are and to point towards future developments — for better understanding, and to address new challenges.