Insect Clocks

Insect Clocks
D.S. Saunders, C.G.H. Steel X. Vafopoulou & R.D. Lewis
3rd edition
576 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0444504074
ISBN-10: 0444504079

Chronobiology is the study of timing mechanisms in biological systems as diverse as plants, animals and some micro-organisms. It includes rhythmic phenomena ranging from short period (ultradian) through daily (circadian) to long period (monthly, annual) cycles of behaviour, physiology and biochemistry. In recent years spectacular advances have been made, particularly in the field of circadian rhythms, and hardly a week passes without important papers appearing in the major scientific journals.

The third edition of Insect Clocks, like its predecessors, deals with the properties and functions of clock-like processes in one of the planet's most abundant groups of organisms. The first half of the book is concerned with circadian rhythmicity, the second with annual responses such as over-wintering diapause, seasonal morphs and cold hardiness. Insect Clocks puts modern developments in these fields into a secure framework of the 'classical' literature that has defined the subject.
The book is directed at active researchers in the field as well as newcomers and scientists working in many other areas of modern biology. It will also serve as a textbook for advanced and less advanced students and should find its way into university libraries wishing to keep abreast of the times.



Table of Contents

Glossary and list of symbols

1. Introduction: rhythms and clocks
2. Circadian rhythms of activity in individual insects
3. Circadian rhythms of activity in populations of insects
4. Circadian rhythms: genes and the feedback loop
5. Physiology of circadian systems
6. The multioscillator circadian system
7. Quantitative models for insect clocks
8. Circadian rhythms: photoreceptor and clock location
9. Photoperiodism and seasonal cycles of development
10. The photoperiodic response
11. Circadian rhythms in photoperiodism
12. The photoperiodic counter
13. Photoperiodic time measurement: the clock-counter mechanism
14. Photoperiodic photoreceptors and clock location
15. Other types of insect clocks
16. Clock complexity: the way forward?

References
Index