A magnetic compass aids monarch butterfly migration
Patrick A Guerra, Robert J Gegear & Steven M Reppert
AffiliationsContributionsCorresponding author
Nature Communications 5, Article number: 4164 doi:10.1038/ncomms5164
Received 06 April 2014 Accepted 19 May 2014 Published 24 June 2014
Source/Fonte: Arkive
Abstract
Convincing evidence that migrant monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) use a magnetic compass to aid their fall migration has been lacking from the spectacular navigational capabilities of this species. Here we use flight simulator studies to show that migrants indeed possess an inclination magnetic compass to help direct their flight equatorward in the fall. The use of this inclination compass is light-dependent utilizing ultraviolet-A/blue light between 380 and 420 nm. Notably, the significance of light <420 also="" an="" and="" antennae="" appear="" appropriate="" are="" as="" augment="" because="" compass="" considered="" contain="" cues="" daylight="" directional="" directionality="" font="" for="" function="" important="" in="" inclination="" light-sensitive="" magnetosensors.="" may="" mechanism="" migration.="" migratory="" monarch="" monarchs="" nm="" not="" orientation="" previous="" serve="" studies.="" sun="" the="" they="" throughout="" time-compensated="" to="" unavailable="" was="" when="">
Subject terms: Biological sciences Zoology
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