RF Safe

Spontaneous magnetic alignment behaviour in free-living lizards

2017 · Unclear · Low evidence

← Research stream
UnclearLow evidencePaper 1320

In 255 P. muralis and 456 P. lilfordi observed during basking, both species showed a highly significant bimodal orientation along the north-northeast and south-southwest magnetic axis. Body alignments were not explained by the sun’s position, and orientations…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017
Study typeother
Reported directionUnclear
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Spontaneous magnetic alignment behaviour in free-living lizards Diego-Rasilla FJ, Pérez-Mellado V, Pérez-Cembranos A. Spontaneous magnetic alignment behaviour in free-living lizards. Naturwissenschaften. 2017 Apr;104(3-4):13. doi: 10.1007/s00114-017-1439-7. Abstract Several species of vertebrates exhibit spontaneous longitudinal body axis alignment relative to the Earth's magnetic field (i.e., magnetic alignment) while they are performing different behavioural tasks. Since magnetoreception is still not fully understood, studying magnetic alignment provides evidence for magnetoreception and broadens current knowledge of magnetic sense in animals. Furthermore, magnetic alignment widens the roles of magnetic sensitivity in animals and may contribute to shed new light on magnetoreception. In this context, spontaneous alignment in two species of lacertid lizards (Podarcis muralis and Podarcis lilfordi) during basking periods was monitored. Alignments in 255 P. muralis and 456 P. lilfordi were measured over a 5-year period. The possible influence of the sun's position (i.e., altitude and azimuth) and geomagnetic field values corresponding to the moment in which a particular lizard was observed on lizards' body axis orientation was evaluated. Both species exhibited a highly significant bimodal orientation along the north-northeast and south-southwest magnetic axis. The evidence from this study suggests that free-living lacertid lizards exhibit magnetic alignment behaviour, since their body alignments cannot be explained by an effect of the sun's position. On the contrary, lizard orientations were significantly correlated with geomagnetic field values at the time of each observation. We suggest that this behaviour might provide lizards with a constant directional reference while they are sun basking. This directional reference might improve their mental map of space to accomplish efficient escape behaviour. This study is the first to provide spontaneous magnetic alignment behaviour in free-living reptiles. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother
Effect directionunclear
PopulationFree-living lacertid lizards (Podarcis muralis and Podarcis lilfordi)
Sample size711
Exposureobservations over a 5-year period during basking
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In 255 P. muralis and 456 P. lilfordi observed during basking, both species showed a highly significant bimodal orientation along the north-northeast and south-southwest magnetic axis. Body alignments were not explained by the sun’s position, and orientations were significantly correlated with geomagnetic field values at the time of observation.

Outcomes measured

  • Spontaneous magnetic alignment (body axis orientation) during basking
  • Association of body axis orientation with sun position (altitude, azimuth)
  • Association of body axis orientation with geomagnetic field values at time of observation
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "Earth's magnetic field (geomagnetic field)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "observations over a 5-year period during basking"
  },
  "population": "Free-living lacertid lizards (Podarcis muralis and Podarcis lilfordi)",
  "sample_size": 711,
  "outcomes": [
    "Spontaneous magnetic alignment (body axis orientation) during basking",
    "Association of body axis orientation with sun position (altitude, azimuth)",
    "Association of body axis orientation with geomagnetic field values at time of observation"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 255 P. muralis and 456 P. lilfordi observed during basking, both species showed a highly significant bimodal orientation along the north-northeast and south-southwest magnetic axis. Body alignments were not explained by the sun’s position, and orientations were significantly correlated with geomagnetic field values at the time of observation.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "magnetic alignment",
    "magnetoreception",
    "geomagnetic field",
    "lizards",
    "Podarcis muralis",
    "Podarcis lilfordi",
    "basking behavior",
    "body axis orientation"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1007/s00114-017-1439-7
PubMed: Not supplied

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library