Title
Illuminating the circadian clock in monarch butterfly migration
PubMed ID
12764200
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Neurobiology
Date
5-24-2003
Document Type
Article
Subjects
*Animal Migration; Animals; Biological Clocks; Butterflies; Circadian Rhythm; Cloning, Molecular; Darkness; Flight, Animal; Light; Nuclear Proteins; Solar System; Ultraviolet Rays
Disciplines
Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Neuroscience and Neurobiology
Abstract
Migratory monarch butterflies use a time-compensated Sun compass to navigate to their overwintering grounds in Mexico. Here, we report that constant light, which disrupts circadian clock function at both the behavioral and molecular levels in monarchs, also disrupts the time-compensated component of flight navigation. We further show that ultraviolet light is important for flight navigation but is not required for photic entrainment of circadian rhythms. Tracing these distinct light-input pathways into the brain should aid our understanding of the clock-compass mechanisms necessary for successful migration.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Science. 2003 May 23;300(5623):1303-5. Link to article on publisher's site