Multiscale description of avian migration: from chemical compass to behaviour modeling.

ABSTRACT: Despite decades of research the puzzle of the magnetic sense of migratory songbirds has still not been unveiled. Although the problem really needs a multiscale description, most of the individual research efforts were focused on single scale investigations. Here we seek to establish a multiscale link between some of the scales involved, and in particular construct a bridge between electron spin dynamics and migratory bird behaviour. In order to do that, we first consider a model cyclic reaction scheme that could form the basis of the avian magnetic compass. This reaction features a fast spin-dependent process which leads to an unusually precise compass. We then propose how the reaction could be realized in a realistic molecular environment, and argue that it is consistent with the known fa

SUBMITTER: Pedersen JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5103213 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature