Biological Clocks

Biological clocks, internal molecular machines that keep track of time within organisms, and circadian rhythms, which keep track of the 24-hour cycle of day and night and light and dark, both enable organisms to adapt their behavior according to the most suitable conditions. There are many selective advantages that go along with the biological clocks of organisms, allowing them to be more productive, reproduce more easily, and mature in the most favorable conditions. These internal …

…so that the young are born within the late spring to early summer, when food is most abundant. This provides the young with the most favorable conditions in which to grow and mature, making By generating these biological rhythms internally, instead of counting completely on external environmental cues, organisms can anticipate important seasonal changes in the environment before they occur, thus providing the organisms with sufficient time to prepare for the changes that will come.