RUI: An Analysis of Particle-Based Magnetic Field Transduction in the Bobolink

鸟类在长途迁徙过程中如何导航仍然是个谜，但有行为证据表明，一些鸟类探测到了地球的磁场。关于这种磁性探测是否需要像矿物磁铁矿这样的磁性材料，存在争议。如果是真的，这一机制将是一个令人兴奋的新发现，但由于结果相互矛盾，仍需要一套严格的测试来确定其有效性。磁铁矿的一个特性是它可以被重新磁化，这个项目使用了一种新的方法，对候鸟施加重新磁化脉冲，然后测量它们在天文馆中首选标题的夜间行为。将检查不同再磁化条件是否存在或不存在短期或长期影响。这种方法创建了一组关键测试，以拒绝或接受行为磁场检测是否依赖于磁性粒子。这一新方法的结果将对这个有争议和有趣的领域产生影响，这个项目也将对本科生的科学体验产生重大影响。

How birds navigate during long-distance migrations remains mysterious, but there is behavioral evidence to suggest that some birds detect the earth's magnetic field. There is controversy about whether such magnetic detection requires a magnetic material such as the mineral magnetite. This mechanism would be an exciting new discovery if true, but because of conflicting results, a rigorous set of tests still is needed to establish its validity. One property of magnetite is that it can be re-magnetized, and this project use the novel approach of applying a remagnetizing pulse to migratory birds, and then measuring their nightly behavior of preferred headings in a planetarium. The presence or lack of short-term or long- term effects from different conditions of remagnetization will be examined. This approach creates a set of critical tests to reject or accept whether behavioral magnetic field detection depends on magnetic particles. Results from this novel approach will have an impact on this controversial and interesting field, and this project also has a significant impact on undergraduate scientific experience.