Abstract
This paper presents data on the activity rhythms of the Brazilian cave cricket, Strinatia brevipennis. Recordings were made in the laboratory in a sound-proof constant environment. Recordings were made either under constant darkness or LD cycles, with food provided ad libitum or not, and with crickets isolated or with a conspecific near the cage. Some crickets were tested with pulses of sound. Raw data are presented in the form of single plot actograms and analyzed using the phase weighted stack (PWS) method. These cave crickets showed a somewhat erratic patterns of activity, although a circadian component could be detected. All the environmental variants tested (food availability, presence of conspecific and sound pulses) seemed to mask any activity rhythm indicating they are possibly important in determining the temporal organization of these crickets. Their activity patterns are discussed in terms of the plasticity of a cave animal's circadian system.
Highlights
The cave habitat is characterized by stable physical features and a patchy and low availability of food) (Gnaspini & Hoenen, 1999)
This paper presents data on the activity rhythms recorded in the laboratory under several conditions with the aim of detecting and analysing the circadian components
A persistent circadian component was detected in all tests, indicating the presence of an endogenous clock in S. brevipennis
Summary
The cave habitat is characterized by stable physical features and a patchy and low availability of food) (Gnaspini & Hoenen, 1999). Strinatia brevipennis is a nocturnal, non-singing cricket, living in caves in southeastern Brazil These crickets feed inside the caves (on debris, carcasses, bat guano, etc.); they have well developed eyes, long antennae and legs, with a tympanum in the fore tibia (Hoenen & Marques, 1998; Gnaspini & Hoenen, 1999). It lives mainly in caves, this species has a disjunct distribution, inhabiting several noninterconnected caves and should be considered a troglophile. In some populations individuals do not leave the cave and young instars can be found very deep in the caves (Gnaspini & Hoenen, 1999) Because it is a troglophilic species, one would expect it to show clear circadian patterns. The patterns are discussed focusing on the plasticity of the circadian systems of cave animals
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