The Biological Time Clock ,
What makes animals tick?
This is a simple learning
exercise that can be performed by your child or student.
All living things are equipped with biological time
clocks. If you have any doubts about this, just study the squirrels in
your backyard toward the end of summer as they prepare for the long, potentially
bitter-cold weather ahead...
If you live in the south, you can generally tell when
a cold front is going to hit the area by studying a herd of cattle. They’ll
face the opposite direction of the front – with their backs to the wall, so
to speak. How do they know that a front will soon engulf the area? Cow
TV? Cow weathermen? No, it’s their internal clock that alerts them
of the impending change.
It’s the same reason that birds fly south for winter,
escaping the cooler zones for warmer temperatures. It’s the same reason
that frogs bury deep, and bears and snakes hibernate. An animal’s internal
clock is pretty cool, isn’t it?
Physical changes in an animal generally proceed adjustments
of their habitat. Examples are snakes that shed their skins and fur-bearing
animals that shed for warmer weather, then re-grow a thick coat for colder temperatures.
Many animals experience a continuous physical change
that occurs throughout the year. If you own a dog, take note of the physical
changes in its appearance throughout the year. Depending on the breed
of dog you own, you may note that it sheds just after winter. As summer
comes to a close, the dog’s fur will thicken again for winter. This cycle
keeps repeating throughout the life span of your dog. It’s the dog’s internal
time clock at work.
Internal time clocks are a fascinating study. So
many things have an effect on internal clocks, such as lighting – even the time
we go to bed. Have you ever noticed that it’s very difficult to sleep
in a well-lit room? Or, if you begin going to bed at sporadic times that
it's very difficult to fall to sleep and to awake the following morning?
Take time to begin studying the living things around
you. Note how they change throughout the year.
A very good source for more information on the internal
time clock, check out your local library – a common, yet often forgotten hall
of knowledge.
|
