Krill CHronobiology in a changing Arctic Sea Ecosystem (KrillCHASE); RIS ID 11368

Biological clocks are central to all living systems providing an innate measure of time so that organisms can anticipate and adapt to cyclic changes in their environment. The circadian clock is synchronized by temporal cues such as daily light/dark cycle or photoperiod. However, the Arctic environment is characterized by several months of Polar Night when the sun is continuously below the horizon. I propose to investigate the ability of the clock mechanism of Thysanoessa inermis, a key species in the Arctic food-web, to be maintained during the permanent darkness of the Polar Night. Using quantitative real-time PCR , I will analyze the daily clock genes oscillations of T. inermis in the field. I will also investigate the disruption of the molecular mechanism underlying circadian rhythms by artificial light pollution.