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Migratory birds are able to choose the appropriate migratory direction under dim yellow narrowband light

Romanova, Nadezhda; Utvenko, Gleb; Prokshina, Anisia; Cellarius, Fyodor; Fedorishcheva, Aleksandra; Pakhomov, Alexander

Authors

Nadezhda Romanova

Gleb Utvenko

Anisia Prokshina

Fyodor Cellarius

Alexander Pakhomov



Abstract

Currently, it is generally assumed that migratory birds are oriented in the appropriate migratory direction under UV, blue and green light (short-wavelength) and are unable to use their magnetic compass in total darkness and under yellow and red light (long-wavelength). However, it has also been suggested that the magnetic compass has two sensitivity peaks: in the short and long wavelengths, but with different intensities. In this project, we aimed to study the orientation of long-distance migrants, pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca), under different narrowband light conditions during autumn and spring migrations. The birds were tested in the natural magnetic field (NMF) and a changed magnetic field (CMF) rotated counterclockwise by 120° under dim green (autumn) and yellow (spring and autumn) light, which are on the ‘threshold’ between the short-wavelength and long-wavelength light. We showed that pied flycatchers (i) were completely disoriented under green light both in the NMF and CMF but (ii) showed the migratory direction in the NMF and the appropriate response to CMF under yellow light. Our data contradict the results of previous experiments under narrowband green and yellow light and raise doubts about the existence of only short-wavelength magnetoreception. The parameters of natural light change dramatically in spectral composition and intensity after local sunset, and the avian magnetic compass should be adapted to function properly under such constantly changing light conditions.

Citation

Romanova, N., Utvenko, G., Prokshina, A., Cellarius, F., Fedorishcheva, A., & Pakhomov, A. (2023). Migratory birds are able to choose the appropriate migratory direction under dim yellow narrowband light. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 290(2013), https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.2499

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 21, 2023
Online Publication Date Dec 20, 2023
Publication Date Dec 20, 2023
Deposit Date Jan 16, 2025
Journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Print ISSN 0962-8452
Electronic ISSN 1471-2954
Publisher The Royal Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 290
Issue 2013
DOI https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.2499
Public URL https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1048489
Publisher URL https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.2499
Additional Information Received: 2023-11-06; Accepted: 2023-11-21; Published: 2023-12-20