Animal navigation: a noisy magnetic sense?

Abstract

Overview

Diverse organisms orient and navigate using Earth's magnetic field, however, consistency in eliciting magnetic orientation responses in both laboratory and natural settings is challenging.

Findings

• Species often prefer non-magnetic cues, using the magnetic sense as a redundant or backup form of navigation.
• The magnetic sense may be 'noisy,' with magnetic signals weak against thermal and receptor noise, making instantaneous magnetic information acquisition difficult and inaccurate.
• Time-averaging and complex neural processing are speculated to be necessary for effective use of magnetoreception.

Conclusion

Despite its inefficiencies and the need for time-intensive processing, magnetoreception remains vital in scenarios where it is the sole navigational aid available, potentially preserved by natural selection.