Two magnetoreception pathways in a migratory salamander.

J B Phillips

doi:10.1126/science.3738508

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PubMed · 3738508

Two magnetoreception pathways in a migratory salamander.

J B Phillips

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Abstract

Male eastern red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) under controlled laboratory conditions exhibit unimodal magnetic compass orientation either in a trained compass direction or in the direction of their home pond. If the vertical component of the magnetic field is inverted, newts exhibiting the simple-compass response undergo a 180 degree reversal in orientation, whereas newts orienting in the home direction are unaffected by this treatment. These results indicate that newts use an axial compass mechanism for simple-compass orientation similar to that found in migrating birds. However, a distinct magnetoreception pathway with polar response properties is involved in homing and is possibly linked in some way to the navigational map.

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Adaptation, Physiological Animals Locomotion Magnetics Male Salamandridae Sensory Receptor Cells Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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J B Phillips. 1986-08-15. Two magnetoreception pathways in a migratory salamander.. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3738508

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