Circadian rhythms in the brown bullhead, Ictalurus nebulosus (Teleostei). Evidence for an endogenous rhythm in feeding, locomotor, and reaction time behaviour

Abstract

Locomotor and feeding activity was investigated under(1) 12 h light(L): 12 h dark(D)and 16 h L: 8 h D, (2) 24 h D and 24 h L, and (3) dark pulses (0.75 h L: 0.25 h D), in the brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus). In addition to locomotor and feeding activity, reaction time (latency time on lights-off and lights-on) was also measured.Fish subjected to a light–dark regime showed nocturnal behaviour, in many cases with a positive phase angle difference (i.e., the animals ceased their activity several hours before lights-on). Further, the actograms showed, as expected, a distinct 24 h rhythm. Only 2 brown bullheads out of 15, subjected to constant conditions, showed a circadian component in the locomotor activity, which could only be detected by frequency analysis.Nine out of 12 animals subjected to dark pulses (0.75 h L: 0.25 h D) showed a free-running circadian rhythm (approximately 23 h) in locomotor activity and 2 out of 3 showed such a rhythm in feeding activity. Observations and measurements of reaction time on leaving and re-entering the shelter after lights-off and lights-on (0.75 h L: 0.25 h D) showed also that this parameter has a circadian course. Measurements performed a fortnight later showed a similar, but less pronounced, pattern of behaviour.Dark pulses are thought to prevent rapid dissociation of a flexible multioscillatory circadian system in the brown bullhead.