Annual Rhythms That Underlie Phenology: Biological Time-keeping Meets Environmental Change

Overview

Journal Proc Biol Sci

Specialty Biology

Date 2013 Jul 5

PMID 23825201

Citations 69

Authors

Barbara Helm

Rachel Ben-Shlomo

Michael J Sheriff

Roelof A Hut

Russell Foster

Brian M Barnes

Davide Dominoni

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Seasonal recurrence of biological processes (phenology) and its relationship to environmental change is recognized as being of key scientific and public concern, but its current study largely overlooks the extent to which phenology is based on biological time-keeping mechanisms. We highlight the relevance of physiological and neurobiological regulation for organisms' responsiveness to environmental conditions. Focusing on avian and mammalian examples, we describe circannual rhythmicity of reproduction, migration and hibernation, and address responses of animals to photic and thermal conditions. Climate change and urbanization are used as urgent examples of anthropogenic influences that put biological timing systems under pressure. We furthermore propose that consideration of Homo sapiens as principally a 'seasonal animal' can inspire new perspectives for understanding medical and psychological problems.

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