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Light-dependent magnetic compass orientation in amphibians and insects: candidate receptors and candidate molecular mechanisms

Author

Summary, in English

Magnetic compass orientation by amphibians, and some insects, is mediated by a light-dependent magnetoreception mechanism. Cryptochrome photopigments, best known for their role in circadian rhythms, are proposed to mediate such responses. In this paper, we explore light-dependent properties of magnetic sensing at three levels: (i) behavioural (wavelength-dependent effects of light on magnetic compass orientation), (ii) physiological (photoreceptors/photopigment systems with properties suggesting a role in magnetoreception), and (iii) molecular (cryptochrome-based and non-cryptochrome-based signalling pathways that are compatible with behavioural responses). Our goal is to identify photoreceptors and signalling pathways that are likely to play a specialized role in magnetoreception in order to definitively answer the question of whether the effects of light on magnetic compass orientation are mediated by a light-dependent magnetoreception mechanism, or instead are due to input from a non-light-dependent (e. g. magnetite-based) magnetoreception mechanism that secondarily interacts with other light-dependent processes.

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Pages

241-256

Publication/Series

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Volume

7

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

The Royal Society of Canada

Topic

  • Zoology

Keywords

  • magnetic compass
  • compound eye
  • pineal
  • cryptochrome
  • magnetoreception
  • photoreception

Status

Published

Research group

  • Lund Vision Group

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1742-5662