Magnetoreception and Magnetotactic Orientation

过去20年的行为研究表明， 许多，也许是大多数，类型的动物检测地球的 磁场，并使用这个方向信息源， 引导他们的行动。 然而值得注意的是，在高等动物中 尤其是陆生脊椎动物 检测到的磁场尚未确定。 最近对东方蝾螈的研究表明， 蝾螈是研究磁场的一个特别好的对象， 场敏感性，因为它表现出更强的反应， 在实验室中的地球强度磁场比 观察其他脊椎动物。 此外，东方蝾螈 表现出两种不同的磁响应 性质，表明两种不同的磁感受 系统可能涉及。 菲利普斯博士将进行行为实验， 阐明负责检测的感觉机制 地球的磁场。 具体而言，这些实验将 检验东部蝾螈有两种不同的 磁接收系统：一种利用小粒子的系统 像指南针一样的矿物磁铁矿 第二个系统依赖于专门的视觉感受器， 实际上，“看到”磁场。 确定脊椎动物 探测地球的磁场，特别是， 视觉系统在这种感觉能力中起着重要作用， 对我们理解探测和 包括人类在内的脊椎动物对感觉信息的处理。

Behavioral studies carried out over the last 20 years indicate that many, perhaps most, types of animals detect the earth's magnetic field and use this source of directional information to guide their movements. Remarkably, however, among higher animals and, in particular, land-dwelling vertebrates, the way in which the magnetic field is detected has not been determined. Recent studies of the Eastern newt have shown that this salamander is an especially good subject for studying magnetic- field sensitivity because it exhibits much stronger responses to earth-strength magnetic fields in the laboratory than have been observed for other vertebrates. Furthermore, the Eastern newt exhibits two types of magnetic responses with different properties, suggesting that two different magnetoreception systems may be involved. Dr. Phillips will carry out behavioral experiments designed to elucidate the sensory mechanism(s) responsible for detection of the earth's magnetic field. Specifically, these experiments will test the hypothesis that the Eastern newt has two different magnetoreception systems: one system utilizing small particles of the mineral magnetite that act like tiny compass needles and a second system that relies on specialized visual receptors that, in effect, "see" the magnetic field. Determining how vertebrates detect the earth's magnetic field and, in particular, whether the visual system plays a role in this sensory capability is of considerable importance to our understanding of the detection and processing of sensory information by vertebrates, including man.