Minimizing the adverse effects of lighting and enabling safe and justified darkness are prerequisites for sustainable urban lighting. In this paper, we analyse the justifications and measures that 10 European cities have documented for protecting darkness in their strategic lighting documents such as lighting masterplans. Our aim is to form an overview of the state of darkness protection in European urban settings at the beginning of the 2020s. We hope that the situational overview helps the existing good practices to disseminate and supports steering of measures and development work related to urban lighting and darkness protection at different levels of governance and in research. After exploration of a larger set of material, ten cities and 1-2 documents from each were selected for thematic analysis: three Finnish cities, four other cities of similar size in the northern half of Europe and three more southern European cities. The most common justifications given by the cities for protecting darkness were ecological, relating to biodiversity, ecosystems and species of nature. Human-centred justifications included perspectives of health, well-being and comfort, cultural significance of darkness, and the notion that protecting darkness also creates more legible urban space. The cities present a wide variety of measures for protecting and restoring darkness and mitigating the harmful effects of lighting. Thematic outline and several categories are presented with examples in the article. To conclude, many good practices already exist, and cities would benefit from learning from each other. It seems important to raise awareness about the values of darkness, as well as of solutions that integrate the needs for lighting with the needs for darkness. The analysis raises further research questions on the use and usability of strategic lighting documents and long-term strategic planning to restore and protect urban darkness.
Many subterranean ecosystems are chronically energy limited, yet the mechanisms governing microbial community assembly and metabolic function under extreme carbon scarcity remain poorly resolved. We combined 16S rRNA gene sequencing with community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) to examine how physicochemical gradients regulate microbial diversity and carbon-use strategies across a surface-subsurface transition into the Deep Darkness zone of Indiana Caverns. Progressive isolation from surface inputs resulted in sharp declines in microbial biomass, total organic carbon, and nitrogen, accompanied by increased water content and C:N ratios, indicating strong attenuation of allochthonous organic matter and intensified resource filtering. Microbial communities spanned 42 bacterial phyla, but exhibited compositional shifts consistent with selection for carbon-efficient and non-heterotrophic metabolisms. Cave sediments were dominated by Proteobacteria (47.6%), Acidobacteria (13.6%), Chloroflexi (9.1%), and Nitrospirae (8.3%). In contrast, Actinobacteria, typically abundant in oligotrophic caves, were exceptionally rare (1.2%), suggesting that extreme depletion of refractory organic substrates constrains decomposer-based energy acquisition and favors taxa adapted to chemolithotrophy or resource-conserving strategies. Despite severe carbon limitation, cave communities retained high phylogenetic richness, but were strongly structured by sediment chemistry and moisture availability, indicating niche differentiation driven by environmental filtering rather than passive dispersal. Only 19.8% of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were shared across all sites, consistent with a small, persistent core microbiome. CLPP analyses further revealed functional reorganization: surface reference soil preferentially oxidized labile substrates, whereas cave communities relied more heavily on recalcitrant and polymeric carbon sources. Together, these results demonstrate that extreme oligotrophy restructures cave microbiomes around resource-efficient metabolic guilds shaped by hydrological and geochemical constraints. Caves provide natural laboratories for understanding how microbial communities persist under extreme energy limitation. Yet, the mechanisms linking subterranean physicochemistry with microbial functional capacity remain largely unresolved. By integrating culture-independent sequencing with metabolic profiling across spatial and hydrological gradients, this study shows how carbon scarcity, sediment stoichiometry, and microhabitat structure filter microbial taxa and select for specialized metabolic guilds. The work highlights that subterranean environments can harbor high microbial diversity despite chronic oligotrophy, and that functional potential shifts predictably toward degradation of complex substrates under nutrient scarcity. The unusually low abundance of Actinobacteria, typically dominant in oligotrophic caves, highlights a distinct subterranean energy regime that favors slow-growing, resource-efficient taxa. Our findings provide new insight into how environmental filtering, hydrologic connectivity, and metabolic specialization structure microbiomes in deep karst systems, informing broader models of microbial survival in low-energy environments.
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Plasmodiophora brassicae (Phytomyxea, Rhizaria) is the etiological agent of clubroot disease, one of the most important diseases of Brassicaceae crops. Alteration of metabolism and hormone homeostasis leads to the formation of tumor-like galls in the roots of affected plants. Host plant energy metabolism, defense, and developmental processes are under strong temporal control and the very same processes are affected by clubroot. For the first time, this study uses time-resolved transcriptome analyses to explore how P. brassicae affects Arabidopsis thaliana in the night during intermediate (14 days after inoculation; DAI) and late (21 DAI) infection. Day-night differences in gene expression were more pronounced in younger rather than older plants in our differential gene expression (DGE) analysis. Consequently, intermediate phases of infection showed more day-night differences than later ones. Clustering of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in functional categories highlighted how some of the typical processes known to be disrupted by clubroot infection are more significantly affected in the night and also uncovered some disrupted exclusively in the night. RNA modification stood out as the most unambiguously upregulated process in infected Arabidopsis roots in the night. Analysis of the interaction between clubroot infection and diel oscillations in gene expression detected modifications in the rhythmicity of central circadian clock components during the infection. We discuss our findings in the context of manipulation of plant defense and metabolism, identifying targets for experimental validation and highlighting potential new lines of investigation of our time-resolved datasets to better understand the interaction between P. brassicae and its host.
Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, publicly revealed his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) in 2020, offering visibility to a complex neurodegenerative condition. His case, later linked to a mutation in the PARK2 (parkin) gene, presented atypically with a later age of onset, contributing to ongoing discussions about the phenotypic variability of genetic forms of PD. Beyond medical narratives, Osbourne's openness and philanthropy-culminating in a benefit concert that raised $190 million for Parkinson's and pediatric charities-played a transformative role in destigmatizing the disease. This article explores the scientific and social impact of Osbourne's disclosure, highlighting the role of PARK2 in mitochondrial homeostasis, synaptic integrity, and tumor suppression. We also examine his pursuit of experimental stem cell therapy, discussing its scientific basis, ethical considerations, and current clinical research landscape.
Faith-based rehabilitation programs play a crucial role in supporting individuals' recovery from substance use disorders, where spiritual turning points often serve as catalysts for lasting transformation and renewed meaning. However, little is known about how such experiences unfold and which elements are most significant in the recovery process. This study explores how former substance users construct meaning in their existential journey from addiction to sustained recovery within faith-based contexts in Norway. Data from in-depth qualitative interviews with 24 individuals who had completed Christian rehabilitation programs were analyzed using a thematic narrative approach. The findings revealed that the participants experienced a profound existential and emotional crisis marked by identity loss and hopelessness prior to rehabilitation. Within faith-based communities, they encountered forgiveness, belonging, and unconditional love, which initiated deep spiritual turning points. These experiences were understood as transformative encounters that restored meaning, dignity, and moral direction, and reoriented participants' sense of self. The findings further indicate that spiritual care may function as a foundational and integrative dimension of recovery, shaping not only existential meaning, but also psychological, relational, and behavioral processes. Faith-based institutions exemplify how such spiritual care can be cultivated through holistic and community-based practices. This study highlights the need for greater recognition of spiritual and existential dimensions in recovery processes, as well as for more systematic evaluation and inclusion of faith-based approaches within a pluralistic healthcare landscape.
Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity due to human activity, yet the behavioral and morphological responses of animals to post-fire stressors remain poorly understood. We linked increased canopy openness in recently burned areas with a greater number of predator attacks on clay models of Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis). We also examined whether lizards that recently experienced a fire exhibited morphological shifts in dorsal darkness to better match the darkened substrates of burned environments and whether they shifted perch use to enhance background matching on substrates that reduce conspicuousness in these altered environments. Lizard dorsal darkness and background matching increased with substrate darkness (i.e., they were better camouflaged against burned substrates), but populations from burned habitats were not overall darker in coloration than those from unburned habitats. This was likely due to a preference for using unburned wooden perches, resulting in an average dorsal darkness comparable to lizards in unburned sites. Despite increased predator attacks in recently burned areas, lizards may not consistently adopt behaviors that enhance background matching in post-fire landscapes. This study provides valuable insights into the behaviors of animals affected by fires and highlights potential trade-offs that could affect reproduction or survival.
Light is a key regulator of circadian rhythms, sleep, and neuroendocrine function. Abnormal light exposure has been associated with delirium and adverse outcomes in critically ill patients. While previous ICU studies have generally reported low daytime illuminance and intermittent nocturnal light exposure, most relied on averaged measurements or low temporal resolution monitoring, potentially obscuring clinically relevant exposure patterns. In routine ICU care, light exposure often occurs as brief but frequent events related to necessary interventions, yet the extent and temporal structure of such light fragmentation remain poorly characterized. This study therefore aimed to characterize high-resolution 24-hour light exposure patterns and nocturnal fragmentation in ICU patients. In this observational study, ambient illuminance was continuously recorded every 5 s in adult ICU patients over a one-year period. A total of 222 patients were monitored for up to 7 consecutive days, yielding more than 14 million individual measurements. Light exposure was analysed across complete 24-hour cycles and stratified into daytime (07:00-20:59) and nighttime (21:00-06:59) periods. Outcomes included median illuminance, frequency of light events, extreme illuminance (99th percentile), and duration of uninterrupted nocturnal darkness. Mixed-effects models and negative binomial regression were used to account for repeated measurements and to assess associations with room configuration. Across the 24-hour cycle, median illuminance demonstrated a flattened diurnal pattern, with daytime light levels remaining markedly below those typically encountered in indoor working environments and limited sustained darkness at night. Nighttime exposure was dominated by frequent short-duration light events, resulting in pronounced fragmentation of nocturnal darkness. Fragmentation patterns were largely independent of room configuration and treatment intensity, as ambient illuminance did not differ according to organ support modality once time of day was considered. Extreme illuminance values occurred intermittently, predominantly during daytime, and varied according to room type. ICU light exposure is characterized primarily by temporal fragmentation rather than sustained brightness. Repeated interruptions of darkness may represent a plausible environmental mechanism contributing to circadian dysregulation. These findings highlight care processes as a key target for interventions and support the use of fragmentation-based metrics in future circadian research in critical care.
As the supply of light on Earth is cyclic and asymmetric, living systems that rely on photochemical energy have adapted to accommodate periods of light and darkness. During the day, light energy is available, while throughout the dark phases, thermal relaxation processes can be used to increase functional and structural organization. While light-driven supramolecular assembly has been reported, structural adaptation under alternating light/dark input remains largely unexplored in synthetic supramolecular systems. Here, we show how an oscillating light energy supply can facilitate the structural selection of self-assembling photoswitchable peptides compared to continuous illumination. We demonstrate that polymorphic self-assembled structures are transiently formed and sustained only under light irradiation, while alternating periods of irradiation and darkness favor the formation of a thermodynamically more stable supramolecular architecture. These findings demonstrate the key role that rest (darkness) periods can have in the self-assembly pathway selection of molecular and self-organized supramolecular photosystems.
Postharvest lighting can modify deterioration rates and nutritional profiles of leafy greens during cold storage. This study evaluated the effects of narrow green light-emitting diode (LED) spectra on spinach quality during 18 days of storage at 4°C and 98% relative humidity. Spinach was stored under green LEDs peaking at 500 or 530 nm, a mixed-green treatment (500 + 530 nm), or complete darkness. Illumination was applied at 10 µmol m-2 s-1 with a 12 h light-dark cycle. By Day 18, moisture loss was highest in darkness (22.8%) and lowest under 530 nm LEDs (8.3%). Dark storage caused the greatest color change (ΔE = 7.30), whereas LED-treated samples better maintained color (p < 0.05). Overall visual quality (OVQ) declined rapidly under darkness, falling below marketability by Day 6, whereas all LED treatments preserved marketability until Day 10, with 530 nm LEDs producing the highest scores. Nutritional responses varied among treatments. Mixed-green LEDs increased anthocyanin content by 46.9% compared with darkness (p < 0.05). Total phenolics were higher under 530 nm and mixed-green LEDs and remained above initial values, although differences were not significant. Mixed-green LEDs produced the highest flavonoid content. Chlorophyll and carotenoids remained stable across treatments. Pearson correlation confirmed a strong negative relationship between moisture loss and OVQ (r = -0.735, p < 0.0001). Targeted green LED lighting effectively preserved spinach quality, with 530 nm LEDs best reducing moisture loss and mixed-green LEDs supporting anthocyanin and flavonoid retention. Practically, low-intensity green LEDs in commercial display fridges may help maintain appearance, nutritional value, and marketable shelf life.
Background: Vision is a key sensory system for postural regulation; however, the effects of degraded visual input and complete visual occlusion on static balance are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to compare postural control during single-leg stance under two reduced-vision conditions (eyes open in darkness vs. complete visual occlusion) in healthy young adults and examine the potential influence of sex and mild visual deficits. Materials and Methods: This within-subject laboratory study included 42 healthy young adults (21 males, 21 females; mean age 20.67 ± 0.48 years). Participants performed three valid 20 s single-leg stance trials on a force platform under two visual conditions: eyes open in darkness and complete visual occlusion using an opaque mask. The order of conditions was randomized and counterbalanced, and the mean value of the three valid trials under each condition was used for analysis. Postural sway outcome variables included CoP Area, Oscillation Width, Oscillation Height, Total Displacement, and Mean Velocity. A two-way mixed-design ANOVA examined the effects of visual condition and sex. Additional mixed ANCOVA analyses were performed using body weight as a covariate to verify whether the sex-related findings remained after adjustment for body weight. Exploratory subgroup analyses based on mild visual deficits were performed using independent-samples t-tests. Results: No significant overall main effect of visual condition was observed for any postural sway variable (all p > 0.05). However, a significant condition × sex interaction was found for CoP Area (F(1,40) = 9.910, p = 0.003, η2p = 0.199), indicating different response patterns between males and females across conditions. Significant main effects of sex were also found for Total Displacement (F(1,40) = 9.212, p = 0.004, η2p = 0.187) and Mean Velocity (F(1,40) = 9.090, p = 0.004, η2p = 0.185), with males showing higher values overall. The sex-related findings for CoP Area, Total Displacement, and Mean Velocity remained significant after adjustment for body weight. No significant sex effects were found for Oscillation Width or Oscillation Height, and no significant differences were observed between participants with and without mild visual deficits in either condition (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: Altered visual input did not produce a uniform overall effect on postural sway during single-leg stance in healthy young adults. Instead, the findings indicate a more differentiated pattern, with a sex-specific response for CoP Area and overall sex-related differences in Total Displacement and Mean Velocity that were not explained by body weight. Mild visual deficits were not associated with significant balance alterations under the present experimental conditions. These findings support a more nuanced interpretation of postural regulation under reduced visual input and highlight the importance of considering individual characteristics, particularly sex, in balance assessment.
Differential cell growth, a key evolutionary strategy, involves unequal cell expansion to bend organs like stems or roots, enabling directional growth to optimize access to resources and avoid harmful conditions. Apical hook development in darkness is an excellent model to study asymmetric elongation between the convex and concave sides of the hypocotyl during its two distinctive phases: formation and opening. While PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORS (PIFs) are recognized as essential for proper apical hook development, the underlying cellular basis remains largely unknown. Here, we show that PIF activity is necessary to sustain the coordination of cortical microtubule (cMT) organization (involved in orchestrating cell growth anisotropy) with cell expansion during apical hook opening in darkness under our imaging conditions. In the pifq mutant this coordination is lost, as both apical hook and apical hypocotyl cells undergo excessive elongation despite predominantly longitudinal cMT alignment and significant alignment strength, resulting in defective differential growth. RNA-seq reanalysis revealed the reduced expression of genes associated with cell wall biosynthesis and remodeling, as well as the upregulation of cMT remodeling factors. This work expands the classical view of PIFs as transcriptional regulators of elongation-related genes, identifying them as central coordinators of cytoskeletal organization and directional cell growth that underpins tissue curvature in darkness. These findings establish an epidermis-centered framework for PIF-dependent coupling of cMT organization and anisotropic growth, positioning them as candidate central regulators providing a foundation for future cross-layer analyses to generalize these mechanical interactions across tissues.
Xylaria grammica is an endophytic fungus that produces grammicin, a polyketide reported as a structural isomer of the mycotoxin patulin. However, the environmental regulation of grammicin production remains unclear, and the full biosynthetic pathway has not yet been completely resolved. Genome re-annotation and biosynthetic gene cluster mining revealed high secondary metabolite potential, with 92 predicted clusters spanning major biosynthetic classes. Time-series RNA sequencing under shaking dark, static dark, and continuous light conditions showed strong condition-dependent transcriptome divergence. Light-grown cultures were enriched in functions associated with stress adaptation and detoxification, including oxidoreductase- and monooxygenase-related categories, whereas static dark cultures showed broader activation of secondary metabolism-associated genes at later stages. Among the predicted biosynthetic gene clusters, a patulin-like locus in X. grammica contained homologs corresponding to most genes of the Aspergillus clavatus pat cluster from PatA to PatO, although the gene order differed. Expression profiling revealed coordinated induction of patulin-like genes after 3 days post-inoculation under dark conditions, whereas continuous light strongly repressed their transcription. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis further confirmed this darkness-dependent activation pattern. Together, with previous functional evidence showing that patK and patL are required for grammicin production, these results indicate that darkness acts as a major regulatory switch for secondary metabolism in X. grammica and support the involvement of a patulin-like locus in grammicin biosynthesis. However, the downstream tailoring steps leading to grammicin remain unresolved, and further genetic and metabolomic analyses will be required to complete pathway reconstruction.
Bismuth (Bi) is increasingly used as a substitute for lead (Pb) in several industrial applications, raising concerns about its potential environmental impact. However, the effects of Bi on early plant development and nutrient homeostasis remain poorly understood. In this study, toxicological and transcriptional responses were investigated in garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) exposed in vitro to increasing Bi concentrations (0, 30, 60, 121, and 242 mg L-1) under dark and light conditions. In darkness, Bi progressively reduced the germination index and root growth. In contrast, under light conditions, low Bi concentrations stimulated seedling growth, whereas this effect decreased at higher doses. Gene expression analyses showed that Bi differentially affected key genes involved in iron (Fe) uptake and homeostasis, including LsIRT1 and LsFRO2, which displayed divergent expression patterns in dark- and light-grown seedlings. Micro-X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) analysis revealed distinct Fe and Bi accumulation profiles under dark and light conditions. Moreover, LsPCS1 expression, a marker of heavy metal detoxification responses, was strongly induced in the shoots of light-grown seedlings, where Bi accumulation was detected. Taken together, these results show that Bi inhibits early seedling development in darkness by impairing Fe uptake and homeostasis, whereas light promotes tolerance to Bi by enhancing these processes.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects behavior, personality, motor activity, speech, cognition, and sleeping patterns. Previous findings support the idea that disruption of sleep and circadian systems may not only be affected by this disease but also work to actively shape the clinical phenotype of FTD. Thus, understanding how sleep-wake cycles are altered may provide insight into mechanisms that influence both disease progression and quality of life. We studied an established Drosophila model of FTD to investigate changes in the sleep-wake cycle of both young and aging flies. A C9orf72-associated FTD model was chosen, as the most common genetic cause of sporadic and hereditary FTD is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in intron 1 of the C9orf72 gene. We performed behavioral assays to measure locomotor activity in both a 12 h:12 h light/dark (LD) cycle and complete darkness (free running). From this data, we were able to analyze changes in sleep and activity patterns, as well as circadian rhythms in flies modeling C9orf72-FTD. Our data suggests that these flies have increased nighttime activity and decreased sleep at night, which becomes more significant as they age. Older flies also displayed decreased sleep pressure during both day and night and lost rhythmicity. Of specific interest, young flies modeling C9orf72-FTD demonstrated altered day and night sleep latency, decreased sleep depth at night, and reduced rhythmicity in constant darkness. This suggests that changes in their sleep-wake cycle occur early in disease progression and provide an avenue for potential intervention and early diagnostic markers.
The circadian clock is an endogenous oscillator with a period of approximately 24 hours, with the central pacemaker localized in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Jet lag occurs because the clock requires several days to entrain to a new environment. To address this, it is common practice to use bright light exposure-a potent zeitgeber-at specific times. Here, we propose an alternative approach based on a mathematical limit cycle model: reducing the amplitude of the circadian oscillator to enhance its responsiveness to timing cues. As a proof of concept, we generated a transgenic rat line expressing a dominant-negative (DN) form of BMAL1 in the nervous system to create a model with weakened circadian function. We developed an expression vector using the mouse Prion protein promoter to express a BMAL1 DN lacking the C-terminus, a region critical for CRY1 interaction. We confirmed that the behavioral rhythms of BMAL1 DN(+) Tg rats exhibited lower amplitudes compared to their DN(-) littermates under both light-dark (LD) and constant darkness (DD) conditions. Furthermore, ex vivo SCN organ cultures from BMAL1 DN(+) rats showed lower amplitude rhythms than those from controls. When exposed to bright light at ZT14 (two hours after lights-off) and released to DD, BMAL1 DN(+) rats showed a significantly greater phase response. Additionally, following an abrupt shift in the LD cycle, BMAL1 DN(+) rats required fewer days to re-entrain to the new environment. These suggest that reducing the amplitude of the circadian oscillator enhances phase responsiveness and accelerates entrainment to new light-dark cycles.
Target of rapamycin (TOR) and sucrose non-fermenting 1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) are conserved regulators of plant growth and metabolism and are often portrayed as functionally antagonistic under nutrient limitation. However, how this relationship operates across different nutrient contexts remains poorly defined. Here, we generated an Arabidopsis dual-reporter line that enables simultaneous monitoring of TOR and SnRK1 activities and profiled their dynamics under carbon and nitrogen perturbations. We found that TOR and SnRK1 activities overall exhibit a negative relationship during the transition from carbon starvation to carbon abundance; however, their temporal dynamics during that transition do not support a strictly inverse correlation. Under dark conditions, TOR activity is gradually repressed, while SnRK1 is initially repressed in the early hours and subsequently activated during extended darkness. During nitrogen starvation, TOR activity is progressively repressed, whereas SnRK1 is activated during early hours and then becomes repressed. In vitro, recombinant SnRK1α1 directly inhibits the activity of immunoprecipitated TOR (IP-TOR), whereas IP-TOR does not directly affect SnRK1α1 activity. Together, these results support a nutrient-dependent model in which TOR and SnRK1 are coordinated primarily by cellular metabolic status.
Animals actively explore their surroundings to efficiently obtain resources, relying on the sensory modalities available to them. In South American weakly electric fish, self-generated electric organ discharges (EODs) create a short-range "sensory bubble" that, together with locomotion, supports exploration. This behavior relies on the coordinated modulation of spatial movement and electromotor activity, reflected in changes in EOD rate (EODr). However, how these components are engaged in natural contexts, and which conditions are sufficient to elicit exploration, remain poorly understood. Here, we examined how environmental and contextual factors modulate exploratory behavior in Gymnotus omarorum by combining a minimalistic laboratory assay with multi-day recordings in a seminatural arena. In laboratory tanks, freely moving fish showed minimal locomotor activity, which increased only when darkness and a novel electrosensory stimulus co-occurred, indicating strong context dependence and gating by chronobiological and motivational factors. By contrast, under seminatural conditions preserving natural light and temperature cycles, fish exhibited robust nocturnal rhythms in both locomotor activity and EODr. Chronobiological analysis revealed that the electrosensory rhythm consistently preceded the locomotor rhythm, with individual phase differences correlated across behaviors. These results show that exploration is a temporally organized behavior arising from coordinated modulation of sensory and motor systems. By linking electrosensory activity, locomotion, and circadian timing under ecologically relevant conditions, this study provides insight into how animals regulate sensory sampling and movement during exploration. Resumen Los animales exploran activamente su entorno para obtener recursos de manera eficiente, basándose en las modalidades sensoriales de las que disponen. En los peces eléctricos sudamericanos de descarga débil, las descargas del órgano eléctrico (DOEs) crean una "burbuja sensorial" de corto alcance que, junto con la locomoción, posibilita la exploración. Este comportamiento se apoya en la modulación coordinada del movimiento y la actividad electromotora, reflejada en cambios en la frecuencia de emisión de la DOE (fDOE). Sin embargo, aún se comprende poco cómo estos componentes se ponen en juego en contextos naturales y cuáles son las condiciones suficientes para desencadenar la exploración. En este estudio, examinamos cómo factores ambientales y contextuales modulan el comportamiento exploratorio en Gymnotus omarorum, combinando un ensayo de laboratorio minimalista con registros de varios días en una arena seminatural. En tanques de laboratorio, los peces en libre movimiento mostraron una actividad locomotora mínima, que aumentó únicamente cuando un estímulo electrosensorial novedoso fue presentado en horas de la noche, lo que indica una fuerte dependencia del contexto y un control ejercido por factores cronobiológicos y motivacionales. En contraste, bajo condiciones seminaturales que preservaron los ciclos naturales de luz y temperatura, los peces exhibieron ritmos nocturnos robustos tanto en la actividad locomotora como en la fDOE. El análisis cronobiológico reveló que el ritmo electrosensorial precedió consistentemente al ritmo locomotor, y que las diferencias individuales en la fase estuvieron correlacionadas entre ambos comportamientos. Estos resultados muestran que la exploración es un comportamiento organizado temporalmente que surge de la modulación coordinada de los sistemas electrosensiral y motor. Al vincular la actividad electrosensorial, la locomoción y la ritmicidad circadiana bajo condiciones ecológicamente relevantes, este estudio aporta información sobre cómo los animales regulan el muestreo sensorial y el movimiento durante la exploración.