ABSTRACT

Freshly collected individuals of Hemilepistus reaumurii from the marginal zone of a salt lake in Bchachma (Middle of Tunisia) were seasonally housed in a controlled environment cabinet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sex on the locomotor activity rhythm of this species. Locomotor activity rhythm of males and females of this species was recorded during each season under light-dark cycle (nLD) at a constant temperature of 18 ± 0.5°C. Results showed that both males and females of H. reaumurii exhibited a day activity in late winter and in spring and a crepuscular activity during the other seasons. Results showed also that the locomotor rhythms of males and females were controlled by an endogenous component with circadian period. Furthermore, locomotor rhythm was more stable and better defined in males than in females during spring under constant darkness. The most important locomotor activity time (α) was recorded in winter and spring whatever the sex. However, our finding demonstrated that males were more active than females in late winter. On the other hand, females were more active than males during spring. The variation of activity patterns according to the sexes and seasons is discussed.

摘要

从 Bchachma（突尼斯中部）盐湖边缘地带新鲜收集的Hemilepistus reaumurii个体季节性地安置在受控环境柜中。本研究的目的是调查性别对该物种运动活动节律的影响。在18±0.5°C的恒温下，在明暗循环（nLD）下，在每个季节记录该物种雄性和雌性的运动活动节律。结果表明，H. reaumurii的雄性和雌性在冬末和春季表现出白天活动，在其他季节表现出黄昏活动。结果还表明，男性和女性的运动节律由具有昼夜节律的内源性成分控制。此外，在持续黑暗的春季，男性的运动节律比女性更稳定、更清晰。最重要的运动活动时间 (α) 记录在冬季和春季，无论性别如何。然而，我们的发现表明，男性在冬末比女性更活跃。另一方面，女性在春季比男性更活跃。讨论了根据性别和季节的活动模式的变化。