Orientation of Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) close to the Magnetic North Pole
Sandberg, Roland LU ; Bäckman, Johan LU
and Ottosson, Ulf
LU
(1998)
In Journal of Experimental Biology
201(12).
p.1859-1870
- Abstract
- Orientation experiments were performed with first-year
snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) during their autumn
migration in a natural near-vertical geomagnetic field
approximately 400 km away from the magnetic north pole.
Migratory orientation of snow buntings was recorded using
two different techniques: orientation cage tests and freeflight
release experiments. Experiments were performed
under clear skies, as well as under natural and simulated
complete overcast. Several experimental manipulations
were performed including an artificial shift of the E-vector
direction of polarized light, depolarization of incoming
light and a 4 h slow... (More) - Orientation experiments were performed with first-year
snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) during their autumn
migration in a natural near-vertical geomagnetic field
approximately 400 km away from the magnetic north pole.
Migratory orientation of snow buntings was recorded using
two different techniques: orientation cage tests and freeflight
release experiments. Experiments were performed
under clear skies, as well as under natural and simulated
complete overcast. Several experimental manipulations
were performed including an artificial shift of the E-vector
direction of polarized light, depolarization of incoming
light and a 4 h slow clock-shift experiment. The amount of
stored fat proved to be decisive for the directional
selections of the buntings. Fat individuals generally chose
southerly mean directions, whereas lean birds selected
northerly headings. These directional selections seemed to
be independent of experimental manipulations of the
buntings’ access to visual cues even in the local near-vertical
magnetic field. Under clear skies, the buntings
failed to respond to either a deflection of the E-vector
direction of polarized light or an experimental
depolarization of incoming skylight. When tested under
natural as well as simulated overcast, the buntings were
still able to select a meaningful mean direction according
to their fat status. Similarly, the free-flight release test
under complete overcast resulted in a well-defined
southsoutheast direction, possibly influenced by the
prevailing light northwest wind. Clock-shift experiments
did not yield a conclusive result, but the failure of these
birds to take off during the subsequent free-flight release
test may indicate some unspecified confusion effect of the
treatment. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1857032
- author
- Sandberg, Roland
LU
; Bäckman, Johan
LU
and Ottosson, Ulf
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 1998
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- bird, migration, orientation, magnetic north pole, Plectrophenax nivalis, snow bunting
- in
- Journal of Experimental Biology
- volume
- 201
- issue
- 12
- pages
- 1859 - 1870
- publisher
- The Company of Biologists Ltd
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:2642710917
- ISSN
- 1477-9145
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- b0a5f9e0-01fe-4159-bba3-805425de4089 (old id 1857032)
- alternative location
- http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/201/12/1859
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:28:15
- date last changed
- 2022-01-27 05:32:07
@article{b0a5f9e0-01fe-4159-bba3-805425de4089,
abstract = {{Orientation experiments were performed with first-year<br/><br>
snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) during their autumn<br/><br>
migration in a natural near-vertical geomagnetic field<br/><br>
approximately 400 km away from the magnetic north pole.<br/><br>
Migratory orientation of snow buntings was recorded using<br/><br>
two different techniques: orientation cage tests and freeflight<br/><br>
release experiments. Experiments were performed<br/><br>
under clear skies, as well as under natural and simulated<br/><br>
complete overcast. Several experimental manipulations<br/><br>
were performed including an artificial shift of the E-vector<br/><br>
direction of polarized light, depolarization of incoming<br/><br>
light and a 4 h slow clock-shift experiment. The amount of<br/><br>
stored fat proved to be decisive for the directional<br/><br>
selections of the buntings. Fat individuals generally chose<br/><br>
southerly mean directions, whereas lean birds selected<br/><br>
northerly headings. These directional selections seemed to<br/><br>
be independent of experimental manipulations of the<br/><br>
buntings’ access to visual cues even in the local near-vertical<br/><br>
magnetic field. Under clear skies, the buntings<br/><br>
failed to respond to either a deflection of the E-vector<br/><br>
direction of polarized light or an experimental<br/><br>
depolarization of incoming skylight. When tested under<br/><br>
natural as well as simulated overcast, the buntings were<br/><br>
still able to select a meaningful mean direction according<br/><br>
to their fat status. Similarly, the free-flight release test<br/><br>
under complete overcast resulted in a well-defined<br/><br>
southsoutheast direction, possibly influenced by the<br/><br>
prevailing light northwest wind. Clock-shift experiments<br/><br>
did not yield a conclusive result, but the failure of these<br/><br>
birds to take off during the subsequent free-flight release<br/><br>
test may indicate some unspecified confusion effect of the<br/><br>
treatment.}},
author = {{Sandberg, Roland and Bäckman, Johan and Ottosson, Ulf}},
issn = {{1477-9145}},
keywords = {{bird; migration; orientation; magnetic north pole; Plectrophenax nivalis; snow bunting}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{12}},
pages = {{1859--1870}},
publisher = {{The Company of Biologists Ltd}},
series = {{Journal of Experimental Biology}},
title = {{Orientation of Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) close to the Magnetic North Pole}},
url = {{http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/201/12/1859}},
volume = {{201}},
year = {{1998}},
}