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Circadian rhythms in the blowfly, Phormia terraenovae: the period in constant light
Author(s) -
ASCHOFF JÜRGEN,
PAUL URSULA VON SAINT
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3032.1982.tb00311.x
Subject(s) - phormia regina , biology , calliphoridae , period (music) , circadian rhythm , hatching , anatomy , rhythm , zoology , larva , ecology , medicine , endocrinology , physics , acoustics
ABSTRACT. Locomotor activity of individual blowflies, Phormia (=Protophormia) terraenovae R.D. (Diptera, Calliphoridae), was recorded by means of running wheels made of Perspex (plexiglass). At various intervals after hatching, flies were placed in the wheel in continuous light (120 lx). The period of the free‐running rhythm was often shorter than 24 h initially, but lengthened later and stabilized after 15–20 days at values around or above 25 h. The mean period was independent of age in both sexes. Within a range from 2 to 2000lx the period did not depend in a systematic way on intensity of illumination; no activity could be recorded below 1 lx.