Circadian and ultradian rhythms were analyzed in Sabella spallanzanii tested in laboratory constant darkness conditions. A video camera took images per 30 s during a week. The number of times animals opened the fan per 30 min was counted by an observer. Resulting time series were subdivided into 24-h segments in order to assess the change of the activity rhythm over consecutive days. Periodogram and waveform analyses measured the periodicity and the pattern of fluctuation, at each cycle. Results indicate that animals express a major circadian peak in the first day of test, and this progressively spits into subcomponents from days 2 to 4. At days 5 and 6 the circadian peak is reconstituted. The activity phase of a rhythm (agr) and its amplitude of oscillation were also computed per 24-h segments. The values of different time series were averaged at corresponding 24-h stages. A significant increment of mean agr was observed from days 1 to 4, while conversely the amplitude decreased. From days 5 to day 6, an opposite trend in both variables was observed. These results are descriptive but can be interpreted in the context of models accounting for the generation of ultradian rhythms when controlling oscillators became transiently uncoupled.

This study was supported by a grant from the Ministerio Italiano per le Politiche Agricole e Forestali (Law 41/82).

8 pages, 4 figures.

Peer reviewed