Many fables and myths try to explain the Moon effect on the animals that make them such as "crazy", such as dogs that howl constantly. So far, only a few scientific reports that discuss the issue. But now, several scientists discover how the Moon cycles affect on the animal behavior through a comprehensive review.
People who believe that the Moon could trigger the dogs are howling may be disappointed to learn that many animals adjust their behavior in response to changing light levels and tidal sea water, rather than supernatural thing. However, some animals still remain following the mysterious circadian clock is controlled by the lunar cycle, such as the research team reports in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal, on July 2, 2013.
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| While the solar cycle's effects on animal behavior are heavily studied, far less has been researched about the lunar cycle's effects. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/) |
"The Moon may act as a synchronization guidance between the individual, as a guide for other environmental parameters, such as the availability of food and tidal sea water, or just make an animal could use his eyesight at night," said Noga Kronfeld-Schor, a biologist from Tel Aviv University, which is involved in the report. "Their behavior are influenced by the Moon is very wide and varied, starting from a long-term process, as the time for breeding and migration."
To understand the Moonlight effect on the nocturnal animals are active at night, the team was split into a variety of effects categories: reproduction, communication, and the process of looking for food or prey. One of the most bizarre behavior that they monitor mass spawning events that are triggered by the Moon every December in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Every year, hundreds of species of coral spawn together. Various environmental factors, such as temperature, salinity, and food supply, contributing to the time of the incident, but the moonlight level seems to be the main trigger. When the moonlight on the right time, hundreds of corals release sperm and eggs are synchronized, which increase the chances of conception. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE | TJANDRA DEWI | KORAN TEMPO 4278]
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