Seasons of Life: Biological Rhythms Underlying Healthy Living

Interdisciplinary Exploratory Symposium

20th November 2013

University of Glasgow, Main Building Lecture Theatre 255

Organisers:

Barbara Helm (1), Marcel E. Visser (2), Neil Evans (1), Jane Robinson (1) & Russell Foster (3)

1 Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
2 Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) & Groningen University & Wageningen University, P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, NL
3 Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK

Overview

Annual changes in the environment shape the rhythm of life of most organisms on earth. However, wild organisms are increasingly coming under pressure because anthropogenic change is modifying the seasons for which they are adapted. Reports of mismatched timing of internal and external rhythms indicate detrimental consequences of this disconnect. Increasing scientific evidence for seasonal patterns in human physiology, health and well-being suggests that Homo sapiens is also principally a "seasonal animal". Disconcertingly, human lifestyles under artificial conditions of eternal summer provide the most extreme example for a disconnect from natural seasons, making humans vulnerable to detrimental consequences for health and well-being. A closer look at the "seasons of life" could, therefore, inform efforts to mitigate the impact of global change, as well as inspire new perspectives for understanding medical and psychological problems in both animal and human populations. For this to occur we must develop interactive research efforts that promote transdisciplinary work under the unifying, annual time-frame.

We therefore propose development of an overarching research initiative to clarify the mechanisms that underlie seasonality, and the consequences of this for the potential of evolutionary adaptation to a seasonal world. This initial, one-day symposium will highlight seasonality of human health and review evidence for phenology under pressure and the consequences of disrupted seasonal timing. The final symposium session will explore mechanistic advances that may help to understand the generation of long-term biological rhythms. We are grateful to BBSRC and BSN for sponsoring the symposium.