Light cycles and living organisms

1. The solar cycle and seasonal rhythms

The Earth’s rotation period on its own axis in 24h is at the origin of the day/night cycle. Since life appeared on Earth nearly 3.8 billion years ago, 1,400 billion day/night cycles have followed one another. The Earth’s rotation period around the Sun’s axis, i.e. the duration of an Earth year, is 365.25 days and the inclination of the Earth’s axis with respect to this rotation plane is 23.5°. Both are at the origin of the cycle of seasons. Thus, the terrestrial area that receives the sun’s rays of light at a perpendicular angle is a function of the Earth’s position relative to the Sun. However, the closer the photons that compose the rays of light arrive to a perpendicular angle, the greater the energy delivered and the hotter it gets. This is why we distinguish between summer and winter, as well as between seasons, spring and autumn. And throughout the year, the duration of the day during a 24-hour day varies. The inclination of the Earth’s axis with respect to the Earth’s plane of rotation around the sun is also at the origin of this variation. Thus, as latitude increases or decreases, so does the duration of the day. For each terrestrial hemisphere, the longest day is reached at the summer solstice and the shortest day at the winter solstice. Consequently, the annual change in the length of the day is associated with the annual change in seasons, regardless of the geographical area considered, except at the equator, and regardless of the date (Figure 1).

2. The lunar cycle and living organisms

Illuminated by the sun, the Moon reflects its light. At night, the Moon is therefore visible from the Earth and its light illuminates the atmosphere. The lunar cycle lasts 29 days for a complete rotation of the Moon around the Earth and 24.8 hours for a complete rotation of the Moon on its own axis. Sun, Earth and Moon are constantly changing positions. As a result, the portion of the Moon illuminated and visible from the Earth also changes. The illumination of our atmosphere varies greatly: from 0.0001 lux at the new moon to 1 lux at the full moon. It is 0.1 lux for a half moon and 0.01 lux for a quarter moon.

These changes in light intensity during the lunar cycle affect the behaviour and biological rhythms of living organisms. In particular, the lunar cycle, by modifying the illumination of the environment, increases the risk of perceived predation and changes musculoskeletal and eating habits. Thus, most small nocturnal mammals reduce their overall activity on full moon nights. On the contrary, the increase in illumination tends to favour predators during their search for food. Biological rhythms are also modified. In some species, the lunar cycle synchronizes breeding periods between individuals. This is the case for amphibians and corals. These behaviours and rhythms would be trained and synchronized by a 29-day circalunar clock. However, studies are lacking and the mechanisms and photoreceptors involved have not yet been identified (Figure 2).

 

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References and notes

[1] Kronfeld-Schor N, Dominoni D, De Iglesia H, Levy O, Herzog ED, Dayan T & Helfrich-Forster C (2013) Chronobiology by moonlight. Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences 280, 1-11.

Further reading

Bradshaw WE & Holzapfel CM (2007) Evolution of animal photoperiodism. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, & Systematics 38, 1-25.

CEA, French Atomic Energy Commission (2009). The Sun. CEA editions.

Koukkari WL & Sothern RB (2006) Introducing biological rhythms. New York, Springer Verlag.

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