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   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Tracking how magnetism affects animal behavior    
      
     Date:   
         February 23, 2023   
     Source:   
         Springer   
     Summary:   
         Scientists summarize the methods used to explore how the Earth's   
         magnetic field influences the behavior of a wide variety of animal   
         species. This review is an ideal starting point for scientists who   
         wish to enter this fascinating but still poorly-understood topic   
         in modern sensory biology.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   For over 50 years, scientists have observed that the behaviour of   
   a wide variety of animals can be influenced by the Earth's magnetic   
   field. However, despite decades of research, the exact nature of this   
   'magnetic sense' remains elusive. Will Schneider and Richard Holland   
   from Bangor University in Wales and their co-worker Oliver Lindecke   
   from the Institute for Biology, Oldenburg, Germany have now written a   
   comprehensive overview of this cross-disciplinary field, with an emphasis   
   on the methodology involved. This work is now published in the journal   
   EPJ Special Topics.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   This magnetic sense, or 'magnetoreception', was first noticed in birds,   
   and particularly in migratory songbirds. It has now been observed   
   in many other species including mammals, fish and insects. However,   
   the exact relationship between the magnetic field and the behaviour is   
   difficult to pin down because it can be masked by other environmental   
   factors. Experiments must be very carefully designed if their results   
   are to be statistically sound.   
      
   "We aim to provide a balanced overview for researchers who wish to enter   
   this exciting area of sensory biology," explains Schneider. He and his   
   co-authors outlined a range of methods that are used to deduce whether an   
   animal's behaviour is affected by a magnetic field. These include using   
   GPS to mark animals' alignment with the Earth's field during normal   
   activities, such as cows grazing; observing behaviour after tissues   
   thought to be responsible for magnetoreception have been removed, or   
   genes knocked out; and attaching small magnets on or near the animals'   
   bodies to disrupt the mechanism. Further work by animal physiologists,   
   neuroscientists, geneticists and others will also be necessary to truly   
   understand this phenomenon.   
      
   And this research is not only of academic interest. "Understanding animal   
   magnetoreception will help us to protect animals released into unknown   
   environments in the wild," adds Lindecke.   
      
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Plants_&_Animals   
                   # Wild_Animals # Behavioral_Science #   
                   Animal_Learning_and_Intelligence # Zoology   
             o Earth_&_Climate   
                   # Atmosphere # Earth_Science # Geology #   
                   Near-Earth_Object_Impacts   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Earth_science o Geophysics o Molecular_biology o Game_theory   
             o Dolphin o Mirror_neuron o Biology o Cave   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by Springer. Note: Content may be edited   
   for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Will T. Schneider, Richard A. Holland, Oliver Lindecke. Over 50   
      years of   
         behavioural evidence on the magnetic sense in animals: what has   
         been learnt and how? The European Physical Journal Special Topics,   
         2023; DOI: 10.1140/epjs/s11734-022-00755-8   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230223132931.htm   
      
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