The effect of a strong magnetic field on monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) migratory behavior
The effect of a strong magnetic field on monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) migratory behavior
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DOI：
10.1007/s001140050587
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发表时间：
1999-03-01
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Jander, R
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Perez, SM;Taylor, OR;Jander, R
来自美国中部和东部以及加拿大的帝王蝶每年都会聚集在墨西哥中部的越冬地点[1-3]。在晴朗的日子里，帝王蝶迁徙的方向是由太阳罗盘引导的[4]。偏振光的感知和方向也可以结合到这个指南针中[5]。然而，即使在完全阴天，当太阳的位置和相关的天体线索是不可用的，帝王蝶保持正常的西南方向[6，7]。因此，除了太阳指南针[4，5，8]，帝王蝶必须有一个备用的定位机制，例如当太阳被隐藏时可以使用的磁指南针。我们测试了蝴蝶对磁场的敏感性，这是任何磁罗盘方向的要求，通过将受试者暴露在强磁场中[9-13]并测量它们随后的飞行方向。实验蝴蝶被磁处理完全迷失方向。与此相反，假对照蝴蝶继续将它们的身体引向西南方向，自然对照蝴蝶也是如此。这项研究首次证明了帝王蝶对磁场的敏感性，并表明磁场感知在某种程度上被纳入了它们的跨大陆迁徙导航系统。磁罗盘定向在包括鳞翅目在内的各种类群的迁徙和归巢动物中是已知的[14-19]。使用磁罗盘定位必然需要一种能接受磁场的感觉机制。最常见的机制之一是对地球弱磁场的磁铁矿敏感性[14，15，17，20]。矿物磁铁矿存在于许多已知使用磁性取向的物种中[21]。虽然涉及这种矿物质的感觉机制的细节现在才开始显现[20]，但有人认为磁铁矿颗粒充当生物合成的指南针。在这个被提出的机制中，内部罗盘针被地球磁场偏转，动物对这些微小的偏转很敏感。以前的研究表明，帝王斑蝶含有磁铁矿[22-24]。虽然有暗示性，但磁铁矿的存在本身并不构成磁感知的证据。我们通过实验测试了对磁场的敏感性，以确定暴露于强磁场[9，10，12，13]是否会影响迁移君主的方向。
Monarch butterflies from across the central and eastern United States and Canada converge yearly on overwintering sites in central Mexico [1–3]. On clear days the directional orientation of migrating monarchs is guided by the use of a sun compass [4]. Polarized light perception and orientation may also be incorporated into this compass [5]. However, even on completely overcast days, when the sun’s position and related celestial cues are unavailable, monarchs maintain a normal southwesterly orientation [6, 7]. Therefore, in addition to a sun compass [4, 5, 8], monarchs must have a backup mechanism of orientation such as a magnetic compass that can be used when the sun is hidden. We tested the butterflies’ sensitivity to magnetic fields, a requirement of any magnetic compass orientation, by exposing subjects to a strong magnetic field [9–13] and measuring their subsequent flight direction. Experimental butterflies were completely disoriented by the magnetic treatment. In contrast, sham control butterflies continued to direct their bodies toward the southwest, as did natural control butterflies. This study demonstrates for the first time that monarch butterflies are sensitive to magnetic fields and suggests that magnetic field perception is somehow incorporated into their transcontinental migratory navigation system.Magnetic compass orientation is known in species of migratory and homing animals from various taxa including the order Lepidoptera [14–19]. Use of magnetic compass orientation necessarily calls for a sensory mechanism receptive to magnetic fields. One of the most commonly proposed mechanisms is a magnetitebased sensitivity to the earth’s weak magnetic field [14, 15, 17, 20]. The mineral magnetite is present in many species known to use magnetic orientation [21]. Although details of the sensory mechanism involving this mineral are only now beginning to come to light [20], it has been suggested that the magnetite particles act as biosynthesized compass needles. In this proposed mechanism, the internal compass needles are deflected by the earth’s magnetic field, and the animals are sensitive to these minute deflections. Monarchs have previously been shown to contain magnetite [22–24]. Although suggestive, the presence of magnetite alone does not constitute evidence of magnetic perception. We tested experimentally for a sensitivity to magnetic fields by determining whether exposure to a strong magnetic field [9, 10, 12, 13] affects orientation in migratory monarchs.