Activity patterns in mammals: Circadian dominance challenged

PLoS Biol. 2019 Jul 15;17(7):e3000360. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000360. eCollection 2019 Jul.

Abstract

The evidence that diel patterns of physiology and behaviour in mammals are governed by circadian 'clocks' is based almost entirely on studies of nocturnal rodents. The emergent circadian paradigm, however, neglects the roles of energy metabolism and alimentary function (feeding and digestion) as determinants of activity pattern. The temporal control of activity varies widely across taxa, and ungulates, microtine rodents, and insectivores provide examples in which circadian timekeeping is vestigial. The nocturnal rodent/human paradigm of circadian organisation is unhelpful when considering the broader manifestation of activity patterns in mammals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution
  • Circadian Clocks / physiology*
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mammals / classification
  • Mammals / metabolism
  • Mammals / physiology*
  • Rodentia / classification
  • Rodentia / metabolism
  • Rodentia / physiology
  • Species Specificity
  • Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / metabolism
  • Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / physiology

Grants and funding

DGH was supported by HFSP program grant RGP0030/2015-C301 "Evolution of seasonal timers". The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.