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Evidence for latitude-driven changes in diel rhythms in a wide-ranging seabird

Gillies, Natasha ; Descamps, Sebastien ; Huffeldt, Nicholas Per LU ; McKendrick, Frederick ; Anker-Nilssen, Tycho ; Bogdanova, Maria ; Sandøy Bråthen, Vegard ; Chastel, Olivier ; Christensen-Dalsgaard, Signe and Daunt, Francis , et al. (2026) In Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 293(2067).
Abstract

Diel rhythms synchronized to Earth's photic cycle are near-ubiquitous among animals living in regions with distinct day-night cues. Where such cues are reduced or absent, however, activity patterns may weaken, reorganize or become decoupled from the light-dark cycle, which may allow for more flexible behavioural expression. Using a dataset of >900 free-ranging black-legged kittiwakes from colonies spanning a broad latitudinal gradient (40-81°N), we show considerable population-level variation in diel activity patterns, from clear 24 h rhythms with distinct peaks at dawn and dusk at lower latitudes, to variable and non-diel rhythms with flattened activity patterns across the 24 h day at high latitudes. These patterns were consistent... (More)

Diel rhythms synchronized to Earth's photic cycle are near-ubiquitous among animals living in regions with distinct day-night cues. Where such cues are reduced or absent, however, activity patterns may weaken, reorganize or become decoupled from the light-dark cycle, which may allow for more flexible behavioural expression. Using a dataset of >900 free-ranging black-legged kittiwakes from colonies spanning a broad latitudinal gradient (40-81°N), we show considerable population-level variation in diel activity patterns, from clear 24 h rhythms with distinct peaks at dawn and dusk at lower latitudes, to variable and non-diel rhythms with flattened activity patterns across the 24 h day at high latitudes. These patterns were consistent with the wide spectrum of light-dark cycles experienced across their breeding range, supported by our finding that activity was strongly predicted by sun elevation, suggesting alignment with the light-dark cycle. Together, our findings reveal substantial within-species variation in rhythmicity across latitudes and demonstrate that changes in the photic environment can reshape the temporal organization of activity even within a single, widely distributed species.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
behavioural plasticity, black-legged kittiwake, diel rhythms, foraging behaviour, latitudinal variation, light–dark cycles
in
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
volume
293
issue
2067
pages
10 pages
publisher
Royal Society Publishing
external identifiers
  • pmid:41844239
  • scopus:105033764465
ISSN
1471-2954
DOI
10.1098/rspb.2025.2023
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9c63cba8-0b18-42ba-9c96-e88283c24681
date added to LUP
2026-06-15 11:24:09
date last changed
2026-09-08 23:48:03
@article{9c63cba8-0b18-42ba-9c96-e88283c24681,
  abstract     = {{<p>Diel rhythms synchronized to Earth's photic cycle are near-ubiquitous among animals living in regions with distinct day-night cues. Where such cues are reduced or absent, however, activity patterns may weaken, reorganize or become decoupled from the light-dark cycle, which may allow for more flexible behavioural expression. Using a dataset of &gt;900 free-ranging black-legged kittiwakes from colonies spanning a broad latitudinal gradient (40-81°N), we show considerable population-level variation in diel activity patterns, from clear 24 h rhythms with distinct peaks at dawn and dusk at lower latitudes, to variable and non-diel rhythms with flattened activity patterns across the 24 h day at high latitudes. These patterns were consistent with the wide spectrum of light-dark cycles experienced across their breeding range, supported by our finding that activity was strongly predicted by sun elevation, suggesting alignment with the light-dark cycle. Together, our findings reveal substantial within-species variation in rhythmicity across latitudes and demonstrate that changes in the photic environment can reshape the temporal organization of activity even within a single, widely distributed species.</p>}},
  author       = {{Gillies, Natasha and Descamps, Sebastien and Huffeldt, Nicholas Per and McKendrick, Frederick and Anker-Nilssen, Tycho and Bogdanova, Maria and Sandøy Bråthen, Vegard and Chastel, Olivier and Christensen-Dalsgaard, Signe and Daunt, Francis and Dehnhard, Nina and Ezhov, Aleksey and Fayet, Annette L. and Frederiksen, Morten and Gavrilo, Maria and Hedd, April and Kolbeinsson, Yann and Krasnov, Yuri V. and Labansen, Aili and Linnebjerg, Jannie and Lorentsen, Svein Håkon and Merkel, Flemming and Moe, Børge and Newell, Mark and Newton, Stephen and Olsen, Bergur and Reiertsen, Tone and Robertson, Gregory J. and Strøm, Hallvard and Þórarinsson, Þorkell Lindberg and Patrick, Samantha C.}},
  issn         = {{1471-2954}},
  keywords     = {{behavioural plasticity; black-legged kittiwake; diel rhythms; foraging behaviour; latitudinal variation; light–dark cycles}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{2067}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
  series       = {{Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological     Sciences}},
  title        = {{Evidence for latitude-driven changes in diel rhythms in a wide-ranging seabird}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.2023}},
  doi          = {{10.1098/rspb.2025.2023}},
  volume       = {{293}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}