The role of the biological clock in the sun compass orientation of free-running individuals of Talitrus saltator

2005 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 835-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicita Scapini ◽  
Claudia Rossano ◽  
Giovanni M. Marchetti ◽  
Elfed Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Biological Clock ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Talitrus Saltator ◽  
Free Running

scholarly journals Pigment-Dispersing Factor-expressing neurons convey circadian information in the honey bee brain

Open Biology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 170224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Beer ◽  
Esther Kolbe ◽  
Noa B. Kahana ◽  
Nadav Yayon ◽  
Ron Weiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Pacemaker Cells ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Complex Behaviour ◽  
Pigment Dispersing Factor ◽  
Central Brain ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Clock Protein

Pigment-Dispersing Factor (PDF) is an important neuropeptide in the brain circadian network of Drosophila and other insects, but its role in bees in which the circadian clock influences complex behaviour is not well understood. We combined high-resolution neuroanatomical characterizations, quantification of PDF levels over the day and brain injections of synthetic PDF peptide to study the role of PDF in the honey bee Apis mellifera . We show that PDF co-localizes with the clock protein Period (PER) in a cluster of laterally located neurons and that the widespread arborizations of these PER/PDF neurons are in close vicinity to other PER-positive cells (neurons and glia). PDF-immunostaining intensity oscillates in a diurnal and circadian manner with possible influences for age or worker task on synchrony of oscillations in different brain areas. Finally, PDF injection into the area between optic lobes and the central brain at the end of the subjective day produced a consistent trend of phase-delayed circadian rhythms in locomotor activity. Altogether, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that PDF is a neuromodulator that conveys circadian information from pacemaker cells to brain centres involved in diverse functions including locomotion, time memory and sun-compass orientation.

Photoperiod Length and the Chronometric Mechanism of the Sun Compass in Mediterranean Sandhoppers

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 1155-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ugolini ◽  
F. Frittelli
Keyword(s):  
Apparent Movement ◽  
Close Relation ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Seasonal Adaptation ◽  
Talitrus Saltator

The chronometric mechanism of compensation for the apparent movement of the sun was investigated in adult individuals of Talitrus saltator (Amphipoda: Talitridae) from Mediterranean latitudes. The individuals were subjected to alteration of the duration of illumination, while its phase remained the same as in nature. A close relation between photoperiod length and the chronometric mechanism of the sun compass was observed, which could explain the seasonal adaptation of the sun compass. We propose an alternative to the classic hypothesis of daily differential compensation for the apparent movement of the sun.

Partial experience with the arc of the sun is sufficient for all-day sun compass orientation in homing pigeons, Columba livia

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (15) ◽  
pp. 2341-2348 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.A. Budzynski ◽  
F.C. Dyer ◽  
V.P. Bingman
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Homing Pigeons ◽  
Experimental Group

The ability of animals to learn to use the sun for orientation has been explored in numerous species. In birds, there is conflicting evidence about the experience needed for sun compass orientation to develop. The prevailing hypothesis is that birds need entire daytime exposure to the arc of the sun to use the sun as an orientation cue. However, there is also some evidence indicating that, even with limited exposure to the arc of the sun, birds, like insects, can use the sun to orient at any time of day. We re-examine this issue in a study of compass orientation in a cue-controlled arena. Two groups of young homing pigeons received different exposure to the sun. The control group experienced the sun throughout the day; the experimental group experienced only the apparent descent of the sun. After 8 weeks of sun exposure, we trained both groups in the afternoon to find food in a specific compass direction in an outdoor arena that provided a view of the sun but not landmarks. We then tested the pigeons in the morning for their ability to use the morning sun as an orientation cue. The control group and the experimental group, which was exposed to the morning sun for the first time, succeeded in orienting in the training direction during test 1. The orientation of the experimental group was no different from that of the control group, although the experimental first trial directional response latencies were greater than the control latencies. Subsequently, we continued training both groups in the afternoon and then tested the pigeons during the morning under complete cloud cover. Both groups displayed random directional responses under cloud cover, indicating that the observed orientation was based on the visibility of the sun. The data indicate that pigeons with limited exposure to the arc of the sun can, like insects, use the sun for orientation at any time of day.

Hippocampal participation in the sun compass orientation of phase-shifted homing pigeons

1996 ◽  
Vol 179 (5) ◽  
pp. 695-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.P. Bingman ◽  
A. Gagliardo ◽  
P. Ioal�
Keyword(s):  
The Sun ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Homing Pigeons

CLOCK-SHIFT EXPERIMENTS WITH MIGRATORY YELLOW- FACED HONEYEATERS, LICHENOSTOMUS CHRYSOPS (MELIPHAGIDAE), AN AUSTRALIAN DAY-MIGRATING BIRD

1993 ◽  
Vol 181 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Munro ◽  
R. Wiltschko
Keyword(s):  
Initial Response ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Conflicting Information ◽  
Natural Photoperiod ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Migrating Birds ◽  
Clock Shift

The behaviour of an Australian day migrant, the yellow-faced honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops, was studied in order to assess the role of the sun in migratory orientation. During autumn migration, all tests took place under a sunny sky; birds were tested while living in the natural photoperiod (control) and with their internal clock shifted 4 h fast and 4 h slow. In spring, all birds were shifted 3 h fast; tests in overcast conditions, with the birds relying on their magnetic compass, served as controls. In control tests in both seasons, the birds preferred directions corresponding to those observed in the wild. When tested under sunny conditions with their internal clock shifted, the birds changed their directional tendencies. However, their preferred directions were different from those expected if a time-compensating sun compass was being used. After about 6 days, the shifted birds' directions were no longer different from the control direction. This behaviour argues against a major role of the sun compass in the orientation of day migrants. The dramatic changes of the sun's arc with geographic latitute might cause day-migrating birds to prefer a more constant orientation cue, such as the geomagnetic field. The initial response to the clock-shift might have occurred because the birds were confused by the conflicting information from solar and magnetic cues. This suggests that the sun is usually used as a secondary cue in combination with the magnetic field.

Sun-compass orientation in homing pigeons: compensation for different rates of change in azimuth?

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (5) ◽  
pp. 889-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Wiltschko ◽  
M. Walker ◽  
W. Wiltschko
Keyword(s):  
Internal Representation ◽  
Apparent Movement ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Sun Compass ◽  
Homing Pigeons ◽  
Rates Of Change ◽  
Compensation Mechanisms

Birds using their sun compass must compensate for the apparent movement of the sun with the help of their internal clock. The movement of the sun is not uniform, being much faster around noon than near sunrise and sunset. If the sun-compass mechanisms are not adjusted to these variations, considerable errors might arise. To learn whether birds are able to take the different rates of sun azimuth change into account, we subjected homing pigeons to a 4 h fast clock-shift. The experiments were performed near Auckland, New Zealand, at a latitude of 37 degrees S, where the expected deflections for a 4 h shift in summer vary from less than 40 degrees to more than 120 degrees, depending on time of day. One group of birds was released just after sunrise or during the corresponding period in the afternoon when the expected deflections were minimal, the other group during late morning when they were maximal. The different sizes of the observed deflections - between 26 degrees and 51 degrees in the first group, and between 107 degrees and 153 degrees in the second group - clearly show that the birds' compensation mechanisms are closely tuned to the varying rates of change in sun azimuth. The results suggest that pigeons have a rather precise internal representation of the sun curve, which makes the avian sun compass a highly accurate mechanism of direction finding.

The Safe Aircraft Competition, The Sun Compass, and more

1930 ◽  
Vol 142 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-234
Author(s):  
Alexander Klemin
Keyword(s):  
The Sun ◽  
Sun Compass

The role of science in the study of and response to space threats

2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (8) ◽  
pp. 777-799
Author(s):  
B. M. Shustov
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
The Sun ◽  
National Program ◽  
Biological Hazard ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Space Activities

During the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, space hazards multiplied, the most urgent of which is space debris. Professionals working in space are exposed to this hazard daily and are aware of it as a problem. Furthermore, increasing attention is being paid to the unpredictable behavior of the Sun, which produces the so-called space weather. The asteroid-comet hazard is considered as potentially having the most catastrophic consequences. No manifestations of biological hazard have yet been observed, although as space activities develop, it is becoming increasingly important. The appropriate time scale for astrophysical hazards is many millions of years, so from a practical perspective, they have no importance. This article briefly describes the main types of space hazards. The author analyzes the results of research and practical work in the field, both worldwide and specifically in Russia. Comparative analysis leads to the clear conclusion that a national program must be developed for the study of space hazards and to respond to space threats. This article is based on a report made by the author at the meeting of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) on January 15, 2019.

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