Journal Article10.1038/309151A0
Magnetic orientation and magnetically sensitive material in a transequatorial migratory bird
Robert C. Beason,Joan E. Nichols +1 more
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TL;DR: It is suggested that the ability of the bobolink to detect magnetic fields is associated with deposits of iron oxide that lie in sheaths of tissues around the olfactory nerve and bulb and between the eyes, and also in bristles which project into the nasal cavity.
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Abstract: A variety of animal species is sensitive to changes in natural and artificial magnetic fields. The receptor mechanism for this ability has been described for a few species, most notably magnetotactic bacteria1 and potential receptors have been reported for such animals as honey bees, homing pigeons and dolphins2–5. Some species of migratory birds also perceive changes in magnetic field6. We show here that the bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), which has the longest transequatorial migratory path of any New World land bird7, responds to changes in the Earth's magnetic field indicating that it uses the magnetic information as a primary orientation cue during its migration. We suggest that the ability of the bobolink to detect magnetic fields is associated with deposits of iron oxide (probably magnetite) that lie in sheaths of tissues around the olfactory nerve and bulb and between the eyes, and also in bristles which project into the nasal cavity.
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Citations
Magnetoreception in birds: Different physical processes for two types of directional responses
TL;DR: The two types of responses to migratory orientation are based on different physical principles, with the compass response based on a radical pair mechanism and the fixed‐direction responses probably originating in magnetite‐bas...
Are magnetic storms hazardous to your health
TL;DR: For example, Roederer et al. as mentioned in this paper pointed out that magnetic field intensity changes of only a few tens of nanotesla can affect living organisms and that the primary field-sensing units (magnetosomes) in brain cells may be quite sensitive.
54
Chemical compass behaviour at microtesla magnetic fields strengthens the radical pair hypothesis of avian magnetoreception.
Christian Kerpal,Sabine Richert,Jonathan G. Storey,Smitha Pillai,Paul A. Liddell,Devens Gust,Stuart R. Mackenzie,P. J. Hore,Christiane R. Timmel +8 more
TL;DR: It is shown that a molecular triad acts as a chemical compass in magnetic fields of similar magnitude to that of the Earth, supporting the hypothesis that photo-initiated quantum processes underlie bird magnetoreception.
51
Insight into shark magnetic field perception from empirical observations.
TL;DR: Impaired experiments support hypotheses that magnetic field perception in sharks is not solely performed via the electrosensory system, and that putative magnetoreceptor structures may be located in the naso-olfactory capsules of sharks.
References
Magnetic compass of European robins.
TL;DR: The magnetic compass of European robins does not use the polarity of the magnetic field for detecting the north direction, so birds take the direction on the magnetic north-south axis for "north" where field lines and gravity vector form the smaller angle.
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A technique for recording migratory orientation of captive birds
Stephen T. Emlen,John T. Emlen +1 more
TL;DR: The technique described in this paper eliminates the necessity of prolonged direct observation and bypasses the problem of expensive and cumbersome equipment, and thus provides a means of obtaining simultaneous records on moderately large samples of birds.