| Re: full moon
There are lots of studies on the effects of the lunar cycle on animal behaviour. Perhaps the most abundant data involve marine creatures, which are under the constant influence of the moon-driven (and, to a lesser extent, sun-driven) tides. Nonetheless, there are also plenty of data for land-based animals: from birds to bird food (earthworms seem reluctant to come to the surface during a full moon). The ‘lunar effect’ has also been documented closer to home (metaphorically-speaking). Last year, a study conducted by a team at Colorado State University found that pet cats and dogs were more active and involved in more accidents and fights during periods of full moon than other lunar phases.
In terms of British mammals, one study that springs immediately to mind is that by a team lead by Southampton University marine biologist David Dixon. Dr Dixon and his colleagues studied badgers living on Plymouth's Radford Woods Oil Fuel Depot between 2000 and 2003 and found that the badger's reproductive cycle was correlated with the phase of the moon. The number of matings and scent marking increased during the new moon (dark phase). The theory goes that mating during the darkest lunar phases might be a behavioural mechanism aimed at reducing the likelihood of being spotted by something bigger and meaner than oneself (lynx, wolves etc. in the UK in centuries past), especially given that above-ground copulations may exceed an hour! The paper, incidentally, was published (rather reluctantly, as I understand it) in the European animal behaviour journal Acta Theriologica during 2006.
Finally, you mention the studies on humans (lunatics); there are also several covering non-human primates. Lemurs, for example, come on heat just prior to the full moon, while the ovulation of Africa's guenon monkeys is timed to coincide with the full moon.
Obviously, for every study suggesting a link between moon phases and behaviour there is another suggesting the influence is minimal. Still, what I find fascinating about all this are the little 'snippets' that still -- as far as I know -- defy obvious explanation: why, for example, some people appear to bleed more (as revealed by tonsillectomies and gastrointestinal complaints) during full moons?
Cheers,
Marc. |