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Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
Published on: January 19, 2018
Homeostasis theory: What can we learn from dormancy and symbiotic associations?
1UMR CNRS 7058, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 33 rue St. Leu, Amiens, 80000, France.
Abstract:
In this letter, I discuss the notion of dormancy that De Luca Jr. relies on to criticize the theory of homeostasis. In particular, I try to qualify the issues related to the fact that dormancy is not always a free behavior but is in most situations under the influence of environmental factors. To this end, I discuss diapause in arthropods, which can be obligatory (under the influence of endogenous commands) but which is in most cases facultative (under external command). I emphasize that the notion of stability of a dormant organism must be taken with caution. I briefly mention what the study of sleep in animals can contribute to the notion of homeostasis. Finally, I focus on the role of microbial symbionts and the notion of holobiont. Through this, I question the future of the notions of internal environment and homeostasis and I propose to revisit them in the context of the effects of species interactions on the physiology of organisms.
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