Photoperiodism in birds ANSC 332
Photoperiod overview Hours of light in 24h period Melatonin Pineal gland Breeding
In mammals Optic nerves necessary for regulation of melatonin secretion If both cut, no change Constantly high
In birds Extra-retinal photoreceptors DBP Eye receptors not necessary for photoinduced gonadal growth Pinealectomy Blinding / sectioning optic nerve Likely rhodopsin visual pigments Wavelength of maximum sensitivity = 492 nm Hypothalamus Medio-basal
Determine # photons of given wavelength reaching base of brain Standard sensitivity curve Past trials show red light (650nm) Passes through brain 30x easier Skull permeable to light Sunlight scattered Stimulate encephalic receptors
Circadian clocks 2 clocks SCN (suprachiasmatic nuclei) Pineal Gland Regulates pineal gland Present in mammals and birds Pineal Gland Present in birds When isolated, still secretes melatonin rhythmically
In summary Mammals Birds Extra-retinal photoreceptors Brain Eye pathway not necessary 2 clocks Optic nerve sends information to pineal gland Eye pathway necessary 1 clock
sources https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2FBF00615153.pdf https://www-sciencedirect- com.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/science/article/pii/S0091302214001010#b0145 https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=gQBN30oFIcMC&oi=fnd&pg=PA93&dq =bird+photoperiod+skull&ots=q8whSZXvUc&sig=l1tNLGgo0CbQZx8LkzY7cDNWsMU#v=o nepage&q=bird%20photoperiod%20skull&f=false http://ib.bioninja.com.au/standard-level/topic-6-human-physiology/66-hormones- homeostasis-and/melatonin.html http://photobiology.info/Tosini.html https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Photoperiodic-signal-transduction-pathway-in- mammals-and-birds-In-mammals-light_fig2_260560538