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Abstract

In teleosts, locomotor and physiological activities are controlled by biological
synchronizers which can be triggered by endogenous or exogenous cues; the
light–dark cycle is one of the most common synchronizers (Vera et al.,
2006). The pineal organ processes changes in the light related hormonal signals
such as melatonin which has been associated with the mediation of physiological
processes (Pavlidis et al., 1999) and the transduction of light information to
reproductive and growth processes in fishes (Bayarri et al., 2004). In many vertebrate
species blood melatonin concentration is low during the photophase
(light phase) and elevated during the scotophase (dark phase). Reiter (1989)
defined the three main melatonin synthesis profiles as A, B and C; Type C is
characterized by a prolonged peak during most of the scotophase and is the
most common melatonin production pattern in fishes. No studies on melatonin
levels in seahorses have been reported in the literature. It is known, however,
that seahorses (Hippocampus sp.) display a clear diurnal activity pattern
(Ouyang, 2005; Karina et al., 2006; Sheng et al., 2006). The aims of this study
on adult pot-bellied seahorses Hippocampus abdominalis Lesson, 1827, were to

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Martinez-Cardenas, L and Porter, MJR and Purser, GJ
Journal or Publication Title:	Jounal of Fish Biology
ISSN:	0922-1112
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.01833.x
Additional Information:	The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com
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