Turtles are Guided by The Magnetic Field
Published by Sea turtles can sense Earth’s magnetic field and use it to establish geographic maps that allow them to migrate from their natal beaches and foraging areas. These are the results of a study by the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) published in the journal Advances in Bioscience.
Although the idea that turtles have a magnetic sensory field is not new, as yet been able to confirm this theory. The researchers used specimens of black turtle (Chelonia agassizi) and controlled magnetic stimuli were applied. This identified a group of neurons that are activated in the eye and found that this is the primary recipient body magnetic information received. Responsible for converting the magnetic data into electrical signals is performed by neural iron oxide crystals, an element that is also present in the eye.
In addition, scientists found changes in brain electrical potentials and a change in swimming patterns when magnetic stimuli were applied. This demonstrates that turtles are capable of interpreting environmental magnetic information and make decisions from it. This extraordinary ability would allow them to realize their great migrations or remember the exact location of their beach of birth, even after several decades of life.
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