Summary
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1.
Most studies of long-term endogenous cycles in birds have been performed in light:dark (L:D) cycles. In this study, male dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) were held in constant dim light (1−3 lx) and constant temperature for up to 3 years. Testicular cycles, molt, migratory fattening and nocturnal migratory activity (Zugunruhe) were monitored continuously.
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2.
Birds exhibited up to 3 cycles of gonadal growth and regression, spring pre-migratory fattening, molt, and spring and fall Zugunruhe. The annual cycle events maintained appropriate sequential relationships. The amplitude of successive testicular cycles did not decrease.
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3.
The annual cycles of individual birds drifted out of phase with one another, i.e., they appeared to free-run. Cycle lengths were quite variable: 6 to 20 months based on the interval between testicular maxima, and from 6 to 21 months based on the interval between the onset of post-nuptial molts. The cycles had a mean duration of 13.7 months (SD = 4.2 months) between testicular maxima, and 15.0 months (SD = 3.8 months) between the onset of post-nuptial molts. Therefore they may be considered circannual.
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4.
These data provide the strongest evidence for the existence of endogenous, free-running long-term rhythms in birds. They are consistent with a hypothesis in which annual cycles are based on a self-sustaining circannual oscillator upon which seasonal changes in daylength act as a Zeitgeber.
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Abbreviations
- AHY:
-
after hatching year
- D:
-
dark
- HY:
-
hatching year
- L:
-
light
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Holberton, R.L., Able, K.P. Persistence of circannual cycles in a migratory bird held in constant dim light. J Comp Physiol A 171, 477–481 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00194580
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00194580