308
Wolfgang Wiltschko and Roswitha Wiltschko
(Marhold et al. 1997a), the movements of spiny lobsters on the sea floor
(Lohmann et al. 1995) or the building activity of insects like honeybees (e.g. De
Jong 1982) and compass termites, Amitermes sp. (Termitidae; Jacklyn 1990).
Other behaviors, like the directional tendencies of the marine slug Tritonia that
change in the course of the lunar cycle (Lohmann and Willows 1987) have been
shown to depend on the direction of the magnetic field, but are still poorly
understood. The list of animals must remain rather incomplete, however. Many
species have not yet been studied with regard to their possible use of magnetic
compass information.
Even in animals that prefer visual cues for the orientation of their movements
when available, the magnetic compass may be a mechanism of crucial importance.
Birds use their magnetic compass to calibrate celestial and other visual cues. This
may also be true for some other groups of animals. The magnetic field represents
an omnipresent, reliable directional reference for all kinds of innate or acquired
courses, and it may be this function that constitutes the most important biological
role of the magnetic field. This role seems to be independent of the different
functional modes of the magnetic compass and the possibly different primary
processes of magnetoreception: all these mechanisms provide the same type of
useful compass information for their bearers.
References
Arendse MC (1978) Magnetic field detection is distinct from light detection in the
invertebrates Tenebrio and Talitrus. Nature 274:358-362
Arendse MC, Vrins JCM (1975) Magnetic orientation and its relation to photic
orientation in Tenebrio molitor L (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae). Neth J Zoo!
25:407-437
Baker RR (1989) Navigation and magnetoreception by horses and other nonhuman land mammals. In: Orientation and Navigation - Birds, Humans and
other Animals. Royal Institute ofNavigation, Cardiff, Paper 12
Beason RC, Nichols JE (1984) Magnetic orientation and magnetically sensitive
material in a transequatorial migratory bird. Nature 309:151-153
Beason RC, Semm P (1987) Magnetic responses ofthe trigeminal nerve system of
the Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). Neurosci Lett 80:229-234
Beason RC, Semm P ( 1996) Does the avian ophthalmic nerve carry magnetic
navigational information? J Exp Biol199:1241-1244
Beason RC, Dussourd N, Deutschlander M (1995) Behavioral evidence for the use
of magnetic material in magnetoreception by a migratory bird. J Exp Bioi
198:141-146
Beason RC, Wiltschko R, Wiltschko W (1997) Pigeon homing: effects of
magnetic pulses on initial orientation. Auk 114:405-415
Beck W, Wiltschko W (1982) The magnetic field as reference system for the
genetically encoded migratory direction in Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula
hypoleuca Pallas). Z Tierpsychol60:41-46
Wolfgang Wiltschko and Roswitha Wiltschko
(Marhold et al. 1997a), the movements of spiny lobsters on the sea floor
(Lohmann et al. 1995) or the building activity of insects like honeybees (e.g. De
Jong 1982) and compass termites, Amitermes sp. (Termitidae; Jacklyn 1990).
Other behaviors, like the directional tendencies of the marine slug Tritonia that
change in the course of the lunar cycle (Lohmann and Willows 1987) have been
shown to depend on the direction of the magnetic field, but are still poorly
understood. The list of animals must remain rather incomplete, however. Many
species have not yet been studied with regard to their possible use of magnetic
compass information.
Even in animals that prefer visual cues for the orientation of their movements
when available, the magnetic compass may be a mechanism of crucial importance.
Birds use their magnetic compass to calibrate celestial and other visual cues. This
may also be true for some other groups of animals. The magnetic field represents
an omnipresent, reliable directional reference for all kinds of innate or acquired
courses, and it may be this function that constitutes the most important biological
role of the magnetic field. This role seems to be independent of the different
functional modes of the magnetic compass and the possibly different primary
processes of magnetoreception: all these mechanisms provide the same type of
useful compass information for their bearers.
References
Arendse MC (1978) Magnetic field detection is distinct from light detection in the
invertebrates Tenebrio and Talitrus. Nature 274:358-362
Arendse MC, Vrins JCM (1975) Magnetic orientation and its relation to photic
orientation in Tenebrio molitor L (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae). Neth J Zoo!
25:407-437
Baker RR (1989) Navigation and magnetoreception by horses and other nonhuman land mammals. In: Orientation and Navigation - Birds, Humans and
other Animals. Royal Institute ofNavigation, Cardiff, Paper 12
Beason RC, Nichols JE (1984) Magnetic orientation and magnetically sensitive
material in a transequatorial migratory bird. Nature 309:151-153
Beason RC, Semm P (1987) Magnetic responses ofthe trigeminal nerve system of
the Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). Neurosci Lett 80:229-234
Beason RC, Semm P ( 1996) Does the avian ophthalmic nerve carry magnetic
navigational information? J Exp Biol199:1241-1244
Beason RC, Dussourd N, Deutschlander M (1995) Behavioral evidence for the use
of magnetic material in magnetoreception by a migratory bird. J Exp Bioi
198:141-146
Beason RC, Wiltschko R, Wiltschko W (1997) Pigeon homing: effects of
magnetic pulses on initial orientation. Auk 114:405-415
Beck W, Wiltschko W (1982) The magnetic field as reference system for the
genetically encoded migratory direction in Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula
hypoleuca Pallas). Z Tierpsychol60:41-46