Long-term physiological stability in nature

• Main Author: Stevenson, Tyler John
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University PressNew York 2023
• Subjects: Cygnus columbianus; Tundra
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197665572.003.0001; https://academic.oup.com/book/chapter-pdf/58151299/oso-9780197665572-chapter-1.pdf

Abstract This chapter introduces the concept of regulated changes to ensure the survival of the species, both long and short term. These include the annual migration of tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus), which occurs with an extraordinary level of precision and adaptations by relatively stationary animals such as the Eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) which shift their reproductive activity to coincide with the dramatic increase in food resources during the summer. Rare, predictable long-term physiological and behavioral cycles have evolved to span more than 1 year, such as periodical cicadas in the eastern region of North America, which (Magicicada septendecim) reside in the ground as juveniles and feed on plant roots for 13 or 17 years then emerge in late April or early May as adults all at once in the same year. The chapter concludes with an outline of the remaining chapters.