No evidence for a magnetite-based magnetoreceptor in the lagena of pigeons

Malkemper, E. Pascal; Kagerbauer, Daniel; Ushakova, Lyubov; Nimpf, Simon; Pichler, Paul; Treiber, Christoph Daniel; Jonge, Martin D. de; Shaw, Jeremy; Keays, David A.

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.032

Cited by 22 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The most plausible alternative to RPM, suggested so far, is the magnetoreceptor based on nanoparticles of magnetite or some other magnetic material. According to available data, such a receptor might be situated either in the upper beak 28,38,39 , [but see 40 ] or in the lagena [29][30][31][32] , [but see 41 ], even though other locations cannot be definitely excluded. The main problem of this hypothesis is that no design of the magnetite-based receptor was put forward, which would account for extreme sensitivity of the bird's compass to OMF.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic compass of garden warblers is not affected by oscillating magnetic fields applied to their eyes

Bojarinova

Kavokin

Pakhomov

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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The magnetic compass is an important element of the avian navigation system, which allows migratory birds to solve complex tasks of moving between distant breeding and wintering locations. The photochemical magnetoreception in the eye is believed to be the primary biophysical mechanism behind the magnetic sense of birds. It was shown previously that birds were disoriented in presence of weak oscillating magnetic fields (OMF) with frequencies in the megahertz range. The OMF effect was considered to be a fingerprint of the photochemical magnetoreception in the eye. In this work, we used miniaturized portable magnetic coils attached to the bird’s head to specifically target the compass receptor. We performed behavioural experiments on orientation of long-distance migrants, garden warblers (Sylvia borin), in round arenas. The OMF with the amplitude of about 5 nT was applied locally to the birds’ eyes. Surprisingly, the birds were not disoriented and showed the seasonally appropriate migratory direction. On the contrary, the same birds placed in a homogeneous 5 nT OMF generated by large stationary coils showed clear disorientation. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that the disruption of magnetic orientation of birds by oscillating magnetic fields is not related to photochemical magnetoreceptors in their eyes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic compass of garden warblers is not affected by oscillating magnetic fields applied to their eyes

Bojarinova

Kavokin

Pakhomov

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…We have previously reported the discovery of an iron-rich organelle in both vestibular and cochlear hair cells that is associated with vesicular structures, but because it is primarily composed of ferrihydrite it lacks the magnetic properties to function as the hypothesized torquebased magnetoreceptor [11][12][13]. Moreover, a systematic screen for magnetite in the pigeon lagena using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy has failed to identify extra-or intracellular magnetite crystals [14]. In light of these findings, we focused on electromagnetic induction [15].…”

Section: A Model For Electromagnetic Induction In the Pigeon Inner Earmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Putative Mechanism for Magnetoreception by Electromagnetic Induction in the Pigeon Inner Ear

et al. 2019

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“…While the capacity for magnetoreception among mammals is evident from a number of behavioural experiments 1 – 7 , the anatomical location of the involved receptors remains as enigmatic as in any other animal to date 8 , 9 . Interestingly enough, when tested in darkness, mammals 10 – 13 , fish 14 , 15 and sea turtles 16 were able to orient by a magnetic polarity compass.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corneal sensitivity is required for orientation in free-flying migratory bats

et al. 2021

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The exact anatomical location for an iron particle-based magnetic sense remains enigmatic in vertebrates. For mammals, findings from a cornea anaesthesia experiment in mole rats suggest that it carries the primary sensors for magnetoreception. Yet, this has never been tested in a free-ranging mammal. Here, we investigated whether intact corneal sensation is crucial for navigation in migrating Nathusius’ bats, Pipistrellus nathusii, translocated from their migratory corridor. We found that bats treated with corneal anaesthesia in both eyes flew in random directions after translocation and release, contrasting bats with a single eye treated, and the control group, which both oriented in the seasonally appropriate direction. Using a Y-maze test, we confirmed that light detection remained unaffected by topical anaesthesia. Therefore our results suggest the cornea as a possible site of magnetoreception in bats, although other conceivable effects of the anaesthetic are also explored. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the corneal based sense is of bilateral nature but can function in a single eye if necessary.

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No evidence for a magnetite-based magnetoreceptor in the lagena of pigeons

Cited by 22 publications

References 11 publications

Magnetic compass of garden warblers is not affected by oscillating magnetic fields applied to their eyes

Magnetic compass of garden warblers is not affected by oscillating magnetic fields applied to their eyes

A Putative Mechanism for Magnetoreception by Electromagnetic Induction in the Pigeon Inner Ear

Corneal sensitivity is required for orientation in free-flying migratory bats

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