Sex-specific, inverted rhythms of breeding-site attendance in an Arctic seabird

What is it about?

The day-night cycle is ubiquitous at low latitudes and is a primary cause of circadian rhythms. At polar latitudes during the summer and winter, the day-night cycle is absent. Yet, organisms living in these regions have a diversity of daily activity patterns, ranging from 24 hr rhythms to arrhythmic behavior. This research asked the question: Do thick-billed murres have rhythmic behavior during polar day?

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This research found two unique behaviors in thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) in Arctic Greenland, which have implications for our understanding of circadian rhythms and parental care. The first being that these seabirds have rhythmic behavior that cycles with a 24 hr rhythm that they maintain during polar day when it is continuously light. The second is that the sexes’ rhythms are completely opposite of each other, resulting in complete segregation of the sexes when breeding. Both of these provide unique examples of which to pose further research questions.