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Cited by 617Electromagnetic Fields and Biological EffectsGeomagnetism and Paleomagnetism StudiesAvian ecology and behavior

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 29 of the 30 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Resonance effects indicate a radical-pair mechanism for avian magnetic compass

Ritz, Thorsten, Thalau, Peter, Phillips, John B., Wiltschko, Roswitha, Wiltschko, Wolfgang·2004·Nature
DOI 10.1038/nature02534
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Abstract

Migratory birds are known to use the geomagnetic field as a source of compass information. There are two competing hypotheses for the primary process underlying the avian magnetic compass, one involving magnetite, the other a magnetically sensitive chemical reaction. Here we show that oscillating magnetic fields disrupt the magnetic orientation behaviour of migratory birds. Robins were disoriented when exposed to a vertically aligned broadband (0.1-10 MHz) or a single-frequency (7-MHz) field in addition to the geomagnetic field. Moreover, in the 7-MHz oscillating field, this effect depended on the angle between the oscillating and the geomagnetic fields. The birds exhibited seasonally appropriate migratory orientation when the oscillating field was parallel to the geomagnetic field, but were disoriented when it was presented at a 24 degrees or 48 degrees angle. These results are consistent with a resonance effect on singlet-triplet transitions and suggest a magnetic compass based on a radical-pair mechanism.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature02534

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29 of 29 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Citations

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Kirschvink, J. et al. in Sensory Transduction (eds Corey, D. & Roper, S.) 225–240 (Society of General Physiologists 45th Annu. Symp., Rockefeller Univ. Press, New York, 1992)
  2. Beason, R. C. & Semm, P. in Acta XX Congr. Int. Ornithol. (ed. Bell, B. D.) 1813–1819 (New Zealand Ornithol. Congr. Trust Board, Wellington, 1991)

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Metadata

Authors
Ritz, T., Thalau, P., Phillips, J. B., Wiltschko, R., & Wiltschko, W.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
  • Goethe University Frankfurt (DE)
  • Virginia Tech (US)
Corresponding author
Ritz, Thorsten
ORCID
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2004-05
Volume
429
Issue
6988
Pages
177-180
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/nature02534
OpenAlex
W1999373473
Cited by
617
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 52 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 28
FWCI
18.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Electromagnetic Fields and Biological Effects
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Avian ecology and behavior
Keywords
radical pair mechanism, migratory birds, geomagnetic field, alternating magnetic field, magnetite, singlet-triplet transitions, magnetic resonance, robins, magnetic orientation, seasonal migration, disorientation
MeSH terms
Animals, Europe, Geography, Iron, Magnetics, Models, Biological, Oxides, Songbirds, Animal Migration, Ferrosoferric Oxide

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