Terms of Circadian Rhythm Terms of Circadian Rhythm Jennifer L. Lanier Department of Animal Sciences Colorado State University Ft. Abstract A vast amount of research has been conducted on various insects such as crickets, flies, cockroaches, and beetles, demonstrating the existence of circadian rhythms and how these rhythms relate to insect behavior. This review defines commonly used terms, and describes the behaviors associated with the rhythms and their hosts. Reducing jargon to a level of user friendly concepts is critical for dissemination of information.
Circadian rhythms have an effect on the macro and microbiological functions of behavior.
Sleep, foraging, and photosynthesis patterns are examples of circadian rhythm's effect on macro behavior, while micro behaviors are those activities at the cellular level which give rise to ultradians. Behaviors associated with circadian rhythms range from those listed above to courtship, visual capabilities, migration, phosphorylation, and photoperiodism. Circadian rhythms, insects, behavior Introduction Circadian rhythms are cycles within a living organism, that take about 24 hours in order to complete from start to finish. These cycles are currently being studied feverishly in order to explain the detailed mechanisms and intricacies involved. The basic scientific consensus about rhythms is that they are quite complex, not understood, and that they seem to effect everything imaginable.