Seasonal rhythms in behavior

Abstract

Seasonality has profoundly shaped the evolution of virtually all long-lived organisms on earth. Over most of the planet environmental conditions are not constant, but instead vary in dramatic albeit predictable ways. Food availability, ambient temperatures, rainfall, and a variety of other conditions vary with the changing seasons. As such, behavioral and physiological adaptations to the changing seasons are common among long-lived species across taxa. This chapter will cover some of the key seasonal rhythms in behavior and the neuroendocrine mechanisms that mediate seasonal timing.