magnetoreceptionnavigation
Magnetoreception navigation refers to the biological ability to detect Earth’s magnetic field and use it to orient and navigate during movement, including migration to breeding grounds or homeward journeys. Magnetoreception serves as a compass, providing directional information from field direction and inclination, and in some species may function as a map, helping determine absolute position via field intensity and inclination.
Two leading mechanisms are proposed. The radical-pair mechanism involves photoreceptor proteins, such as cryptochromes in the
Evidence for magnetoreception spans several taxa, including birds, sea turtles, certain fishes, and some insects. In
Open questions focus on the distribution and specificity of magnetoreceptive tissues, the genetic basis of magnetoreception,