Endogenous cardiac activity rhythms of continental slope Nephrops norvegicus (decapoda: nephropidae)

Authors: Jacopo Aguzzi¹; Pere Abelló¹; Michael H. Depledge²

Source: Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, Volume 37, Number 1, March 2004 , pp. 55-64(10)

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Abstract:

The endogenous cardiac activity rhythm of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus was studied under constant conditions of darkness by means of a computer-aided monitoring system (CAPMON). Time series recordings of the heart rate (beats min^-1) were obtained from 47 adult males freshly collected from the continental slope (400-430 m) in the western Mediterranean. Periodogram analysis revealed the occurrence of circadian periodicity (of around 24 h) in most cases. A large percentage of animals showed significant ultradian periods (of around 12 and 18 h). The analysis of the circadian time series revealed the occurrence of peaks of heart rate activity during the expected night phase of the cycle. These results are discussed in relation to the emergence and locomotor activity rhythms of the species.

Keywords: Nephrops norvegicus; Continental slope; Cardiac rhythms; Heart rate; Circadian rhythms; Ultradian rhythms; Western Mediterranean

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1023624042000199890

Affiliations: 1: Institut de Ciències del Mar - CMIMA (CSIC) Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49 08003 Barcelona Spain 2: Plymouth Environmental Research Centre University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth Devon PL4 8AA UK

Publication date: 2004-03-01