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Rhythms of activity and foraging in the intertidal insect Anurida maritima: coping with the tide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2000

Fiona K. McMeechan ,
Andrea Manica  and
William A. Foster
Fiona K. McMeechan
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, England
Andrea Manica
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, England
William A. Foster
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, England
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Abstract

The intertidal insect Anurida maritima (Apterygota: Collembola) has a circatidal rhythm of locomotory activity on the soil surface which was observed during both the day and the night. The main function of this activity was foraging for food. When a superabundant food supply was provided on the upper shore, this completely repressed the usual migration to the lower shore. There was a clear rhythm in feeding activity which was highest shortly after the sea uncovered the insects' shelters and declined rapidly during the intertidal period. The circatidal rhythm of locomotory activity persisted in the laboratory in constant light for seven days (15 cycles). A free-running rhythm underlying the degree of aggregation was also detected.

Type
Brief Report
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 80 , Issue 1 , February 2000 , pp. 189 - 190
Copyright
© 2000 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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