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Resonance effects indicate a radical-pair mechanism for avian magnetic compass

Author

Listed:
  • Thorsten Ritz

    (University of California)

  • Peter Thalau

    (Zoologisches Institut, Fachbereich Biologie und Informatik, J.W. Goethe-Universität)

  • John B. Phillips

    (Virginia Tech)

  • Roswitha Wiltschko

    (Zoologisches Institut, Fachbereich Biologie und Informatik, J.W. Goethe-Universität)

  • Wolfgang Wiltschko

    (Zoologisches Institut, Fachbereich Biologie und Informatik, J.W. Goethe-Universität)

Abstract

Migratory birds are known to use the geomagnetic field as a source of compass information1,2. There are two competing hypotheses for the primary process underlying the avian magnetic compass, one involving magnetite3,4,5, the other a magnetically sensitive chemical reaction6,7,8. Here we show that oscillating magnetic fields disrupt the magnetic orientation behaviour of migratory birds. Robins were disoriented when exposed to a vertically aligned broadband (0.1–10 MHz) or a single-frequency (7-MHz) field in addition to the geomagnetic field. Moreover, in the 7-MHz oscillating field, this effect depended on the angle between the oscillating and the geomagnetic fields. The birds exhibited seasonally appropriate migratory orientation when the oscillating field was parallel to the geomagnetic field, but were disoriented when it was presented at a 24° or 48° angle. These results are consistent with a resonance effect on singlet–triplet transitions and suggest a magnetic compass based on a radical-pair mechanism7,8.

Suggested Citation

  • Thorsten Ritz & Peter Thalau & John B. Phillips & Roswitha Wiltschko & Wolfgang Wiltschko, 2004. "Resonance effects indicate a radical-pair mechanism for avian magnetic compass," Nature, Nature, vol. 429(6988), pages 177-180, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:429:y:2004:i:6988:d:10.1038_nature02534
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02534
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