Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
08:28
Using Pharmacological Manipulation and High-precision Radio Telemetry to Study the Spatial Cognition in Free-ranging Animals
Published on: November 6, 2016
The magnetic map of hatchling loggerhead sea turtles
Kenneth J Lohmann1, Nathan F Putman, Catherine M F Lohmann
1Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|December 6, 2011
Summary
Young loggerhead sea turtles use an inherited magnetic map for navigation during their transoceanic migrations. This involves sensing Earth's magnetic field for both latitude and longitude positioning.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Animal Behavior
- Geophysics
Background:
- Loggerhead sea turtles undertake extensive transoceanic migrations.
- Hatchling turtles navigate vast ocean distances, suggesting innate navigational abilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the navigational mechanisms used by young loggerhead sea turtles.
- To determine if sea turtles possess an inherited magnetic map for migration.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of migratory routes of loggerhead sea turtles.
- Hypothesizing the use of Earth's magnetic field properties (inclination and intensity) for navigation.
Main Results:
- Loggerhead sea turtles appear to utilize a 'magnetic map' for navigation.
- This magnetic map is present in naive turtles, indicating it is inherited.
- Turtles likely derive latitudinal and longitudinal information from magnetic field inclination and intensity.
Conclusions:
- The inherited magnetic map is crucial for loggerhead sea turtle navigation.
- Earth's magnetic field provides key navigational cues for migratory species.
- Similar magnetic navigation mechanisms may be widespread in animal migrations.
