TY - CHAP
T1 - In search of a temporal niche
T2 - Environmental factors
AU - Hut, Roelof A.
AU - Kronfeld-Schor, Noga
AU - van der Vinne, Vincent
AU - De la Iglesia, Horacio
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Time as an ecological niche variable or "temporal niche" can be defined in the context of the most prominent environmental cycles, including the tidal cycle, the lunar day and month, the solar day, and the earth year. For the current review, we focus on the 24-h domain generated through the earth's rotation around its axis (solar day). The daily environmental cycles of light and temperature are a dominant ecological factor generating a variety of adaptations among animals. In this review, we describe these adaptations with a special focus on the visual system and on the adaptive plasticity of activity patterns. Our goals are: (1) Underscore the importance of the 24-h time axis as critical variable in the ecological niche. (2) Highlight cases of temporal niche switches at the evolutionary timescale (phylogenetic level). (3) Review temporal niche switching within an individual's lifespan. (4) Evaluate possible underlying mechanisms for temporal niche switching. (5) Describe a new hypothesis of circadian thermoenergetics which may explain several cases of temporal niche switching in mammals. With this, we hope to inspire experiments under natural conditions or more complex laboratory environments, aimed to reveal environmental factors and mechanisms underlying specific temporal programs.
AB - Time as an ecological niche variable or "temporal niche" can be defined in the context of the most prominent environmental cycles, including the tidal cycle, the lunar day and month, the solar day, and the earth year. For the current review, we focus on the 24-h domain generated through the earth's rotation around its axis (solar day). The daily environmental cycles of light and temperature are a dominant ecological factor generating a variety of adaptations among animals. In this review, we describe these adaptations with a special focus on the visual system and on the adaptive plasticity of activity patterns. Our goals are: (1) Underscore the importance of the 24-h time axis as critical variable in the ecological niche. (2) Highlight cases of temporal niche switches at the evolutionary timescale (phylogenetic level). (3) Review temporal niche switching within an individual's lifespan. (4) Evaluate possible underlying mechanisms for temporal niche switching. (5) Describe a new hypothesis of circadian thermoenergetics which may explain several cases of temporal niche switching in mammals. With this, we hope to inspire experiments under natural conditions or more complex laboratory environments, aimed to reveal environmental factors and mechanisms underlying specific temporal programs.
KW - Circadian thermoenergetics hypothesis
KW - Diurnality
KW - Environment
KW - Evolution
KW - Eye properties
KW - Nocturnality
KW - Temporal niche switching
KW - Visual system
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84864822566&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-444-59427-3.00017-4
DO - 10.1016/B978-0-444-59427-3.00017-4
M3 - פרק
C2 - 22877672
AN - SCOPUS:84864822566
T3 - Progress in Brain Research
SP - 281
EP - 304
BT - Progress in Brain Research
PB - Elsevier B.V.
ER -