Pigeon homing: sun compass use in the southern hemisphere |
| |
Authors: | Roswitha Wiltschko Cordula Haugh Michael Walker Wolfgang Wiltschko |
| |
Institution: | Fachbereich Biologie der J.W.Goethe-Universit?t Frankfurt, Zoologie, Siesmayerstrasse 70, D-60054 Frankfurt, Germany e-mail: wiltschko@zoology.uni-frankfurt.d400.de, Tel.: +49-69-79824703, Fax: +49-69-79824820, DE Experimental Biology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand, NZ
|
| |
Abstract: | Although the sun compass of birds is based on learning the sun's arc during development, it was unclear whether birds can
use the sun when its apparent movement is reversed, in particular, whether northern birds that have been introduced into the
southern hemisphere can use the southern sun. To answer this question, clock-shift experiments were performed with local homing
pigeons in Auckland, New Zealand (37°S). In three fast-shift tests and two slow-shift tests, the experimental birds showed
deflections from the untreated controls that were the mirror images of those observed in the northern hemisphere. These results
clearly show that homing pigeons in New Zealand use a sun compass that is adapted to the situation in the southern hemisphere.
The learning processes establishing the compensation mechanisms thus appear to be free of constraints concerning the direction
of the sun's movement. Differences from recent findings with migratory birds, where the direction of celestial rotation proved
of crucial importance for establishing the migratory direction, are discussed: the differences may arise from the different
orientation tasks, in particular, from the involvement of innate information in establishing the migratory direction.
Received: 13 November 1997 / Accepted after revision: 28 February 1998 |
| |
Keywords: | Pigeon homing Clock-shift Sun compass Southern hemisphere |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|