Diel rhythmicity of activity and corticosterone metabolites in Arctic barnacle geese during breeding

Birds that migrate from temperate areas to the Arctic to breed lose their strongest Zeitgeber of circadian organization when they cross the Arctic Circle in spring – the 24h light-dark cycle. Under continuous daylight, diverse behavioral and physiological patterns have been detected in both free-ranging and laboratory animals. To better understand the evolution of plasticity in circadian clocks, it is essential to study behavioral and physiological rhythmicity in the context of a species' ecology. Employing a multifaceted approach, which included wildlife cameras, accelerometers, and non-invasive sampling of hormone metabolites, we investigated activity patterns and corticosterone rhythmicity in a migratory herbivore, the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis), during its Arctic breeding season on Svalbard. We found that females showed a combination of both ultradian and diel rhythmicity in nest recesses and sleep during incubation. In both parents, these rhythms in activity continued also d..., , # Data from: Diel rhythmicity of activity and corticosterone metabolites in Arctic barnacle geese during breeding

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.j0zpc86ss](10.5061/dryad.j0zpc86ss)

## Description of the data and file structure

Employing a multifaceted approach, which included wildlife cameras, accelerometers, and non-invasive sampling of hormone metabolites, we investigated activity patterns and corticosterone rhythmicity in a migratory herbivore, the barnacle goose (*Branta leucopsis*), during its Arctic breeding season on Svalbard.

### Files and variables

#### File: deJongetal2025_Diel-rhythmicity-of-activity-and-corticosterone-metabolites-in-Arctic-barnacle-geese-during-breeding.zip

**Description:** 

ReadMe for the article: **“*Diel rhythmicity of activity and corticosterone metabolites in Arctic barnacle geese during breeding*”** published in *Behavioral Ecology*

2025-06-10

This readme file describes the data files associated with the above manuscript.

The R files contain the...,