Abstract

Overview

Certain long-distance migratory animals, such as salmon and sea turtles, are thought to utilize the magnetic field of their birthplace for navigation during their return as adults. Fruit flies have now been used to study this geomagnetic imprinting.

Findings

Experimental evidence demonstrates that fruit flies exposed to a specific geographic magnetic field during early development exhibit unique behavioral responses later in life. These flies showed distinct geotactic behaviors, such as moving downward when hungry, which relate to the specific magnetic field they were exposed to during their early life stages. This behavior also extends to their offspring, indicating a form of transgenerational inheritance.

• Flies imprinted on one of three different magnetic fields showed a preference for the familiar field, ignoring others.
• Female progeny of these flies exhibited similar downward movement behaviors, influenced by the magnetic field their parents had experienced. Male progeny only showed this behavior in the presence of female progeny.

Conclusion

This study provides direct evidence of geomagnetic imprinting in fruit flies, suggesting that magnetic field memory may assist in recognizing locations favorable for foraging and reproduction. The possibility that such imprinting aids in navigation and site recognition in migratory species is a key area for future research.