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Thermoregulatory rhythm in juvenile muskellunge (Esox masquinongy): Evidence of a diel shift in the lower set-point

1979; Elsevier BV; Volume: 63; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0300-9629(79)90188-9

0300-9629

William W. Reynolds, Martha E. Casterlin,

Animal Behavior and Reproduction

1. Twelve juvenile muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) tested individually in electronic shuttleboxes exhibited a diel rhythm of preferred temperature, of 27.3°C in late afternoon. 2. The diel pattern of locomotor activity exhibited maxima early and late in the day, when preferred temperatures were beginning to increase and to decrease, respectively; 94% of the 24-hr total activity occurred during the day. 3. Comparison of nocturnal and diurnal preferred-temperature frequency distributions suggests that at night the lower thermoregulatory set-point decreases, while the upper set-point does not change; the lower set-point is higher during the day.