Gravisensation and modulation of gravitactic responses by other sensory cues in the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus).

ABSTRACT: Using the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), we studied how animals can use cues from multiple sensory modalities for deriving directional information from their environment to display oriented movement. Our work focused on determining how monarchs use gravity as a cue for oriented movement and determined how cues from other sensory modalities, cues that by themselves also produce oriented movement (visual and magnetic directional cues), might modulate gravisensation. In two tests of gravisensation (movement in a vertical tube; righting behavior), we found that monarchs display negative gravitaxis only (movement opposite to the direction of gravity). Negative gravitaxis can be modulated by either visual (light) or magnetic field cues (inclination angle) that provide directional informat

SUBMITTER: Kendzel MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10651108 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature