Simulation experiment to test strategies of geomagnetic navigation during long-distance bird migration.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Different theories suggest birds may use compass or map navigational systems associated with Earth's magnetic intensity or inclination, especially during migratory flights. These theories have only been tested by considering properties of the Earth's magnetic field at coarse temporal scales, typically ignoring the temporal dynamics of geomagnetic values that may affect migratory navigational capacity.

Methods

We designed a simulation experiment to study if and how birds use the geomagnetic field during migration by using both high resolution GPS tracking data and geomagnetic data at relatively fine spatial and temporal resolutions in comparison to previous studies. Our simulations use correlated random walks (CRW) and correlated random bridge (CRB) models to model

SUBMITTER: Zein B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8442449 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature