The diversity of lepidopteran spatial orientation strategies – neuronal mechanisms and emerging challenges in a changing world
Grob, Robin ; Farnworth, Max S. ; Degen, Jacqueline ; Warrant, Eric LU
; Montgomery, Stephen H.
and el Jundi, Basil
LU
(2025)
In Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
- Abstract
The Lepidoptera, butterflies and moths, display an astonishing diversity of spatial orientation strategies essential for survival, reproduction, and ecological success. These spatial orientation strategies range from basic taxes to light, wind, gravity, and chemical cues, to more advanced strategies such as straight-line dispersal, multigenerational migration across continents, and complex trap-lining foraging involving long-term spatial memory. These orientation behaviours are tightly integrated with the ecological roles of lepidopterans as pollinators, prey, and bioindicators, and are supported by a flexible neuronal network. Of special interest for successful orientation are higher-order integration centres like the mushroom bodies... (More)
The Lepidoptera, butterflies and moths, display an astonishing diversity of spatial orientation strategies essential for survival, reproduction, and ecological success. These spatial orientation strategies range from basic taxes to light, wind, gravity, and chemical cues, to more advanced strategies such as straight-line dispersal, multigenerational migration across continents, and complex trap-lining foraging involving long-term spatial memory. These orientation behaviours are tightly integrated with the ecological roles of lepidopterans as pollinators, prey, and bioindicators, and are supported by a flexible neuronal network. Of special interest for successful orientation are higher-order integration centres like the mushroom bodies (centres for learning and memory) and the central complex (the centre for spatial orientation and locomotion). These centres support cue integration, compass orientation, memory, and directional decision-making. However, anthropogenic stressors, including habitat fragmentation, light pollution, pesticides, and electromagnetic noise, threaten both the environmental cues and the neural systems facilitating lepidopteran navigation, with potential cascading effects on biodiversity and ecosystem health. By combining insights from behavioural ecology, neurobiology, and conservation, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and adaptations that shape the navigational toolkit of lepidopterans, underlining their significance as animal models for studying spatial orientation in a changing world.
(Less)
- author
- Grob, Robin
; Farnworth, Max S.
; Degen, Jacqueline
; Warrant, Eric
LU
; Montgomery, Stephen H.
and el Jundi, Basil
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- in press
- subject
- keywords
- Central complex, Compass orientation, Dispersal, Insect ecology, Migration, Mushroom bodies
- in
- Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105021383058
- ISSN
- 0340-7594
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00359-025-01780-3
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.
- id
- dd8d44ff-a67a-4e2b-bef7-ae9cda898027
- date added to LUP
- 2025-12-19 13:56:44
- date last changed
- 2025-12-19 13:57:42
@article{dd8d44ff-a67a-4e2b-bef7-ae9cda898027,
abstract = {{<p>The Lepidoptera, butterflies and moths, display an astonishing diversity of spatial orientation strategies essential for survival, reproduction, and ecological success. These spatial orientation strategies range from basic taxes to light, wind, gravity, and chemical cues, to more advanced strategies such as straight-line dispersal, multigenerational migration across continents, and complex trap-lining foraging involving long-term spatial memory. These orientation behaviours are tightly integrated with the ecological roles of lepidopterans as pollinators, prey, and bioindicators, and are supported by a flexible neuronal network. Of special interest for successful orientation are higher-order integration centres like the mushroom bodies (centres for learning and memory) and the central complex (the centre for spatial orientation and locomotion). These centres support cue integration, compass orientation, memory, and directional decision-making. However, anthropogenic stressors, including habitat fragmentation, light pollution, pesticides, and electromagnetic noise, threaten both the environmental cues and the neural systems facilitating lepidopteran navigation, with potential cascading effects on biodiversity and ecosystem health. By combining insights from behavioural ecology, neurobiology, and conservation, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and adaptations that shape the navigational toolkit of lepidopterans, underlining their significance as animal models for studying spatial orientation in a changing world.</p>}},
author = {{Grob, Robin and Farnworth, Max S. and Degen, Jacqueline and Warrant, Eric and Montgomery, Stephen H. and el Jundi, Basil}},
issn = {{0340-7594}},
keywords = {{Central complex; Compass orientation; Dispersal; Insect ecology; Migration; Mushroom bodies}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology}},
title = {{The diversity of lepidopteran spatial orientation strategies – neuronal mechanisms and emerging challenges in a changing world}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00359-025-01780-3}},
doi = {{10.1007/s00359-025-01780-3}},
year = {{2025}},
}