Simulated navigation based on observed gradients of atmospheric trace gases (Models on pigeon homing, part 3) - PubMed (original) (raw)
. 2000 Jul 7;205(1):133-45.
doi: 10.1006/jtbi.2000.2052.
Affiliations
- PMID: 10860706
- DOI: 10.1006/jtbi.2000.2052
Simulated navigation based on observed gradients of atmospheric trace gases (Models on pigeon homing, part 3)
H G Wallraff. J Theor Biol. 2000.
Abstract
An earlier developed model, simulating pigeon homing based on fictitious gradients of atmospheric odours, was applied to actually observed spatial distributions of volatile hydrocarbons. The model calculations demonstrate that sufficient information on a bird's current position with respect to home can be derived from the ratios among three or more chemical compounds which gradually vary over distances of several hundreds of kilometres, differently in different directions. Flight directions computed by model birds from such observed ratios are roughly but not perfectly homeward-oriented from most positions within the investigated radius of 200 km around home. Performances of model birds are at least as good as those of real pigeons in the field. According to calculations using atmospheric data collected under different wind directions, the birds might, but possibly need not, take the current weather conditions into account when evaluating olfactory signals. It is necessary, however, that the birds acquire, during their long-term stay at the home site, some knowledge of the directions of relevant gradients. Homing experiments with pigeons as well as measurements of atmospheric trace substances are consistent with the hypothesis that this knowledge is gained by correlating wind directions with specific changes of ratios among a number of compounds. This assumed process requires further elucidation.
Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
Similar articles
- A geometric model for initial orientation errors in pigeon navigation.
Postlethwaite CM, Walker MM. Postlethwaite CM, et al. J Theor Biol. 2011 Jan 21;269(1):273-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.10.036. Epub 2010 Nov 3. J Theor Biol. 2011. PMID: 21055408 - Pigeon navigation: exposure to environmental odours prior to release is sufficient for homeward orientation, but not for homing.
Gagliardo A, Pollonara E, Wikelski M. Gagliardo A, et al. J Exp Biol. 2016 Aug 15;219(Pt 16):2475-80. doi: 10.1242/jeb.140889. Epub 2016 Jun 9. J Exp Biol. 2016. PMID: 27284069 - Atmospheric propagation modeling indicates homing pigeons use loft-specific infrasonic 'map' cues.
Hagstrum JT. Hagstrum JT. J Exp Biol. 2013 Feb 15;216(Pt 4):687-99. doi: 10.1242/jeb.072934. J Exp Biol. 2013. PMID: 23364573 - Orientation in birds. Olfactory navigation.
Papi F. Papi F. EXS. 1991;60:52-85. EXS. 1991. PMID: 1838523 Review. - [Navigation by means of an olfactory map and a sun compass: the homing ability of pigeons].
Wallraff HG. Wallraff HG. Naturwissenschaften. 1988 Aug;75(8):380-92. doi: 10.1007/BF00377814. Naturwissenschaften. 1988. PMID: 3065647 Review. German.
Cited by
- Grid-like Neural Representations Support Olfactory Navigation of a Two-Dimensional Odor Space.
Bao X, Gjorgieva E, Shanahan LK, Howard JD, Kahnt T, Gottfried JA. Bao X, et al. Neuron. 2019 Jun 5;102(5):1066-1075.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.03.034. Epub 2019 Apr 22. Neuron. 2019. PMID: 31023509 Free PMC article. - Birds and Dogs: Toward a Comparative Perspective on Odor Use and Detection.
Prada PA, Furton KG. Prada PA, et al. Front Vet Sci. 2018 Aug 14;5:188. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00188. eCollection 2018. Front Vet Sci. 2018. PMID: 30155472 Free PMC article. Review. - How Displaced Migratory Birds Could Use Volatile Atmospheric Compounds to Find Their Migratory Corridor: A Test Using a Particle Dispersion Model.
Safi K, Gagliardo A, Wikelski M, Kranstauber B. Safi K, et al. Front Behav Neurosci. 2016 Oct 17;10:175. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00175. eCollection 2016. Front Behav Neurosci. 2016. PMID: 27799899 Free PMC article. - Pheromones in birds: myth or reality?
Caro SP, Balthazart J. Caro SP, et al. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2010 Oct;196(10):751-66. doi: 10.1007/s00359-010-0534-4. Epub 2010 May 21. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2010. PMID: 20490809 Free PMC article. Review. - The underestimated role of olfaction in avian reproduction?
Balthazart J, Taziaux M. Balthazart J, et al. Behav Brain Res. 2009 Jun 25;200(2):248-59. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.08.036. Epub 2008 Sep 2. Behav Brain Res. 2009. PMID: 18804490 Free PMC article. Review.