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The Light-dependent Magnetic Compass

Author

Editor

  • Lars Olof Björn

Summary, in English

Animals can detect different parameters of the geomagnetic field by two principal independent magnetoreception mechanisms: (1) a light-dependent process detecting the axial course and the inclination angle of the geomagnetic field lines, providing the animals with magnetic compass information (inclination compass), and (2) a magnetite-mediated process, providing magnetic map information (map sense). In vertebrates like birds and newts, light-dependent magnetic compass orientation depends on both wavelength and intensity of light, and experimental evidence suggests that magnetic compass information is perceived by magneto-sensitive photoreceptors, possibly containing cryptochromes, in the retina or the pineal.

Publishing year

2007

Language

English

Pages

465-478

Publication/Series

Photobiology – The Science of Light and Life

Document type

Book chapter

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Biological Sciences
  • Zoology

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 978-0-387-72654-0