Why Circadian Rhythms are Circadian: Competitive Population Dynamics of Biological Oscillators

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Living creatures are under control of biological clocks with various periods near those of environmental cycles. Examples are circadian (about a day) and circannual (about a year) clocks. We may ask why their periods are not precisely one day or one year because adaptation to the environment should then be easier. Here, introducing a model of competitive population dynamics of biological species with clock dynamics incorporated, it is shown that periods equal or close to that of the environment do not always guarantee overwhelming superiority and can even lead to extinction. This result may provide a clue to solve the mystery.