Social influences on circadian behavioural rhythms in vertebrates

摘要: Although photoperiodic cycles are known to be the most powerful entraining agent of circadian rhythms in homeotherms, social factors can also play a role synchronizing activity rhythms. Here we review influences on behavioural vertebrates, focusing types possible effects and stimuli eliciting these effects. Social strongly influence by inducing full entrainment, mutual synchronization or desynchronization. Such have been observed species living constrained environment, between mothers offspring altricial mammals, sexual partners competitors, linked hierarchical relationships. However, presence sometimes induces weaker influences, such as partial entrainment relative coordination with masking A weak effect cues has reported. The involved were olfactory stress rodents auditory birds mammals. no significant rhythms, not only solitary species, but species. We discuss technical problems research, particular difficulty recording simultaneously activities several individuals. Finally, point out that knowledge species' behaviour life history may significantly improve chronobiological research. characteristics different levels organization (group, relationship individual levels), particular, should considered when studying