Correlation between the Lunar Phase and Tail-Lifting Behavior of Lizards () Exposed to an Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5587

In multiple linear regression analyses run separately by group, full moon was an independent determinant of the number of tail lifts in the ELF-EMF group but not in the control group. In the ELF-EMF group, tail lifts were higher on days with higher K index in…

Study snapshot

PublicationAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2019

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

We previously showed that the agamid lizard responded to an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF; frequency: 6 and 8 Hz; peak magnetic field: 2.6 µT; peak electric field: 10 V/m) with tail-lifting behavior. In addition, the tail-lifting response to ELF-EMF disappeared when the parietal eyes of the lizards were covered by small round aluminum caps. This result suggests that the parietal eye contributes to light-dependent magnetoreception. In the present study, we set up an ELF-EMF group to evaluate the long-term effect of the ELF-EMF on lizards' behavior and examine our hypothesis that exposure to ELF-EMFs increases the magnetic field sensitivity in lizards. We therefore include the lunar phase (full moon/new moon) and K index as environmental factors related to the geomagnetic field in the analysis. The number of tail lifts per individual per day was the response variable while calendar month, daily mean temperature, daily mean humidity, daily mean atmospheric pressure, full moon, new moon, and K index were the explanatory variables. We analyzed an ELF-EMF group and a control group separately. In a multiple linear regression analysis, the independent determinants associated with the number of tail lifts were the full moon, the temperature, February, March, April, and May in the ELF-EMF group and March, April, May, and June in the control group. The in the ELF-EMF group responded to the full moon whereas those in the control group did not. In addition, in the ELF-EMF group, the number of tail lifts was higher on days when the K index was higher ( = 0.07) in the first period whereas there was no such tendency in either period in the control group. There is the possibility that the exposure to ELF-EMFs may increase magnetic-field sensitivity in lizards.

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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 typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationAgamid lizards (species not specified in provided text)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · long-term (duration not specified)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Tail-lifting behavior (number of tail lifts per individual per day)
Association of tail-lifting with lunar phase (full moon/new moon)
Association of tail-lifting with geomagnetic activity (K index)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
Exposure duration and details of exposure schedule not specified in the provided abstract/metadata
K index association reported as a tendency with p = 0.07 (not clearly statistically significant)
Species name and other experimental details are not fully visible in the provided abstract text

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "long-term (duration not specified)"
  },
  "population": "Agamid lizards (species not specified in provided text)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Tail-lifting behavior (number of tail lifts per individual per day)",
    "Association of tail-lifting with lunar phase (full moon/new moon)",
    "Association of tail-lifting with geomagnetic activity (K index)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In multiple linear regression analyses run separately by group, full moon was an independent determinant of the number of tail lifts in the ELF-EMF group but not in the control group. In the ELF-EMF group, tail lifts were higher on days with higher K index in the first period (p = 0.07), while no such tendency was reported for the control group.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
    "Exposure duration and details of exposure schedule not specified in the provided abstract/metadata",
    "K index association reported as a tendency with p = 0.07 (not clearly statistically significant)",
    "Species name and other experimental details are not fully visible in the provided abstract text"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "6 Hz",
    "8 Hz",
    "2.6 µT",
    "10 V/m",
    "lizard",
    "tail-lifting",
    "parietal eye",
    "lunar phase",
    "full moon",
    "geomagnetic activity",
    "K index",
    "behavior"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.3390/ani9050208
PubMed: 31052293

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