Control systems models for the circadian clock of the New Zealand weta, Hemideina thoracica (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae)

Abstract

The New Zealand weta, Hemideina thoracica, is a nocturnal orthopteran insect which emerges from holes in trees or from under bark soon after sunset to forage for several hours on plant and animal material before returning to its refuge before dawn. In tests of the internal clock hypothesis it exhibits clear circadian locomotor rhythms in which the period is initially somewhat less than 24 h, but frequently spontaneously increases to over 25 h. The rhythms are entrainable by light and temperature cycles, obey Aschoff's Law and are temperature compensated. A single oscillator feedback model accounts for these basic properties of the weta clock, but does not explain a variety of examples of rhythm lability, such as day skipping, spontaneous change in period, scalloping and desynchrony typically found in the real data. To account for these characteristics the model is expanded into two linked populations of oscillators, which retain the basic properties of the simple model and in addition interact through their coupling to show the various types of free-run lability. To make these control systems models compatible with the molecular interpretation of circadian biology, each of the components in the feedback loop is matched with molecular function and structure.