Tidal adaptation of a circadian clock controlling a crustacean swimming behavior

Abstract

Cumacean Dimorphostylis asiatica exhibits an endogenous swimming rhythm, free-running period of which spontaneously changes from circa 12-hr to circa 24-hr in the laboratory. Administration of a 4-hr pulse of hydrostatic pressure stimulus and a 4-hr light pulse confirmed that the circa 12-hr rhythm is circatidal and the circa 24-hr rhythm circadian, with respect to the phase setting characteristics. The activity records provide evidence of a "splitting" phenomenon, which suggests that these two types of rhythms are governed by (an) identical pacemaker(s). This species appears to have acquired tidal synchrony by making use of flexibly coupled circadian pacemakers, accompanied by expansion of their subtidal habitat to shallow, tide-affected area.