Explore tens of thousands of sets crafted by our community.
Animal Navigation and Migration
20
Flashcards
0/20
Celestial Navigation
Dung beetles use the light of the Milky Way to navigate and move in a straight line as they roll dung balls away from the pile.
Hydrodynamic Trail Following
Some aquatic animals, like sea lions, can follow the hydrodynamic trails of their prey using their sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) to detect water movements.
Infrasound Use
Elephants may use infrasound, which is sound below the human range of hearing, to communicate over long distances and potentially to navigate.
Visual Landmark Use
Honeybees use visual landmarks to navigate to and from their hive, communicating location information to other bees through a 'waggle dance'.
Barometric Pressure Sensing
Birds, such as the bar-tailed godwit, may use changes in barometric pressure to anticipate weather changes and adapt their migratory patterns accordingly.
Echolocation
Bats and marine mammals like dolphins use echolocation by emitting sound waves and interpreting the returning echoes to navigate and hunt for prey.
Olfactory Navigation
Salmon use their sense of smell to return to their natal stream from the ocean when it's time to spawn. They imprint on the unique chemical signature of their birthplace.
Nocturnal Navigation
Night-flying birds, including some species of migratory songbirds, use the stars for orientation during their nocturnal migration.
Star Navigation
Sea turtles use the stars to navigate the ocean. They have an internal sense of the earth's magnetic field but also use the constellations to travel long distances.
Optical Flow
Flying insects, like flies, use optical flow (the pattern of apparent motion of objects), which is generated by their movement in the environment, to regulate their flight speed.
Tidal Navigation
Horseshoe crabs use the lunar cycle and tides to determine the optimal time for spawning on beaches.
Magnetic Field Sensing
Many birds, such as homing pigeons, can detect the Earth's magnetic field and use it to navigate across long distances during migration.
Polarized Light Detection
Some insects, like the desert ant, can navigate by detecting the polarized light pattern in the sky, which helps them to find their way back to their nest over featureless terrain.
Electric Field Navigation
Some shark species can detect electric fields emitted by their prey using specialized organs called ampullae of Lorenzini.
Philopatry
Many animals, such as sea turtles and salmon, exhibit philopatry, where they return to their birthplace to breed.
Thermal Navigation
Certain birds of prey, such as vultures, use thermal updrafts to glide long distances with minimal energy expenditure while searching for food.
Solar Navigation
Monarch butterflies use the position of the sun as a compass, allowing them to migrate thousands of miles from North America to Central Mexico.
Lunar Orientation
Some night-migrating birds and marine animals like zooplankton use the moon's light and its reflection on the water's surface to orient themselves.
Bioluminescence Cues
Some deep-sea creatures, like certain species of fish and squid, use bioluminescence to navigate in the darkness of the ocean depths.
Wind Assistance
Migratory birds, such as geese, use wind patterns to assist their long-distance travel by choosing routes with favorable winds.
© Hypatia.Tech. 2024 All rights reserved.