Effects of constant light and dark conditions on the locomotor activity, body mass, and body temperature rhythms of Eurasian Tree Sparrows (<i>Passer montanus</i>)

Lirong Zuo; Ibrahim M. Ahmad; Yuanyuan Liu; Limin Wang; Shu Fang; Dongming Li

doi:10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100126

Avian Research 2023, 14(3): 100126 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100126

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Open Access | Issue | Published: 15 August 2023

Effects of constant light and dark conditions on the locomotor activity, body mass, and body temperature rhythms of Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus)

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Lirong Zuo^{^a^,^b}, Ibrahim M. Ahmad^{^a^,^b}, Yuanyuan Liu^{^a}, Limin Wang^{^a^,^b}, Shu Fang^{^a}, Dongming Li^{^a^,^b}(

)

Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei Province, China

Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China

Keywords:

Circadian rhythm, Activity, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Body mass, Body temperature

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Zuo L, Ahmad IM, Liu Y, et al. Effects of constant light and dark conditions on the locomotor activity, body mass, and body temperature rhythms of Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus). Avian Research, 2023, 14(3): 100126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100126

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Abstract

Light is an essential environmental cue influencing the endogenous circadian clocks that regulate behavioral and physiological processes in animals. Despite extensive research on the circadian rhythms of avian behavior and physiology, the mechanisms by which they adapt and adjust to abnormal photoperiod conditions, such as artificial light, have yet to be fully elucidated. Here, the circadian rhythms of the body mass, activity, and core and peripheral body temperatures of the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus, ETS)—a diurnal passerine—were examined under three different lighting conditions: constant light (LL), constant darkness (DD), and normal light–dark cycles (LD). Our results showed that the activity, body mass, core, tarsometatarsus, and eye temperatures of the ETSs varied significantly with treatment, time, and the interaction between treatment and time; however, there was no significant change in body mass in response to the interaction between time and treatment. Under LD conditions, the ETSs exhibited significant circadian rhythms in activity and core, tarsometatarsus, and eye temperatures. Under LL conditions, only the core temperature exhibited significant rhythmicity. Under DD conditions, there were no significant circadian rhythms in activity, body mass, and eye temperature; however, the core and tarsometatarsus temperatures remained rhythmic. Our results indicate that the core body temperature rhythm of ETS is endogenous and can be maintained under abnormal photoperiods. In contrast, the activity and body surface temperature, uncoupled from the core body temperature under abnormal photoperiod conditions, strongly depend on light. These results differ from those of other diurnal avian species, suggesting a unique coping mechanism of ETS in response to an abnormal photoperiod.

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Effects of constant light and dark conditions on the locomotor activity, body mass, and body temperature rhythms of Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus)

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Lirong Zuo^{^a^,^b}, Ibrahim M. Ahmad^{^a^,^b}, Yuanyuan Liu^{^a}, Limin Wang^{^a^,^b}, Shu Fang^{^a}, Dongming Li^{^a^,^b}(

)

Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei Province, China

Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China

Abstract

Keywords: Circadian rhythm, Activity, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Body mass, Body temperature

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Received: 27 July 2023

Accepted: 01 August 2023

Published: 15 August 2023

Issue date: September 2023

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