An experimental analysis on the magnetic field sensitivity of the black-meadow ant Formica pratensis retzius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

ÇAMLITEPE Y., AKSOY V., Uren N., YILMAZ A., BECENEN İ.

Acta Biologica Hungarica, cilt.56, sa.3-4, ss.215-224, 2005 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 56 Sayı: 3-4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2005
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1556/abiol.56.2005.3-4.5
  • Dergi Adı: Acta Biologica Hungarica
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.215-224
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Ants, Formica pratensis, Magnetic sense, Magnetoreception, Orientation
  • Trakya Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Ant responses were tested under both the natural geomagnetic and artificially induced Earth-strength electromagnetic field. Foragers were trained for a month to visit a food source at the north arm accessed through an orientation platform assembly. Under the natural geomagnetic field, when all other orientational cues were eliminated, results indicated significant heterogeneity of ant distribution with the majority seeking geomagnetic north in darkness. However, in light, foragers failed to discriminate geomagnetic north. Under shifted artificial electromagnetic field, orientation was predominantly on the artificial magnetic N/S axis with a significant preference for the artificial north in both light and dark conditions. © 2005 Akadémiai Kiadó.