Chronobiology of South American subterranean rodents, in laboratory and field
| Grant number: | 14/09324-6 |
| Support type: | Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation |
| Effective date (Start): | December 01, 2014 |
| Effective date (End): | November 30, 2015 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Physiology |
| Principal Investigator: | Gisele Akemi Oda |
| Grantee: | Milene Gomes Jannetti |
| Home Institution: | Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
Abstract Daily biological rhythms with periods of 24h are synchronized by the Earth´s environmental cycles such as light/dark and temperature. Little is known about daily rhythmicity and synchronization mechanisms in organisms that live in extreme environments where apparently there is no day and night , like caves , underground tunnels and abyssal regions. Our group has developed chronobiological studies in an endemic subterranean rodent species from South America (Ctenomys aff. knighti ) known as tuco-tuco. They display daily rhythms of locomotor activity and body temperature, which are synchronized by daily light/dark cycles, both in field and laboratory conditions. In the field, previous preliminary work, based on continuous observation of tuco-tucos kept in semi-natural arenas revealed that they are exposed to light daily at random times of the day. The objective of this project is to conduct the automated measurement of the temporal pattern of daily light exposure in tuco-tucos aiming at a seasonal monitoring of this pattern. A new device for recording and storage of this light exposure data will be tested in animals kept in semi - natural enclosures. This is the third model tested by the group over the seven years of this project, being much lighter, more accurate and robust and promising for the goals of this project. Finally, parameters of the measured temporal patterns will be incorporated into computer simulations to improve the natural synchronization model developed by the group. | |