Moon orientation in adult and young sandhoppers under artificial light

Anno: 2005

Autori: Ugolini A., Boddi V., Mercatelli L., Castellini C.

Affiliazione autori: Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica, Università di Firenze, Via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy; Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Università di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 48, 50134 Firenze, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Applicata, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, Italy

Abstract: Our experiments, carried out at night and during the day on adults and laboratory-born young of the sandhopper Talitrus saltator, deal with the identification and use of the moon as an orientating factor. Sandhoppers were released in an apparatus (a Plexiglas dome) that produced a scenario similar to the natural one (with artificial sky, moon or sun illuminated at different intensities). When tested at night, the adult and young sandhoppers used the artificial moon like the natural one, independently of the intensity of illumination of the artificial sky and moon. In other words, sandhoppers tested at night always identified the artificial moon as the moon and never as the sun. In daytime releases, the seaward orientation failed at low intensities of artificial sky and sun illumination (3.07 and 1.55 mW cm2, respectively), whereas the sun compass was used effectively at higher levels of artificial sun and sky illumination. The innate ability of moon compass orientation in inexpert young sandhoppers was demonstrated even under artificial light.

Giornale/Rivista: PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Volume: 272 (1577)      Da Pagina: 2189  A: 2194

Parole chiavi: Artificial light; Moon; Orientation; Sandhoppers; Sun; Talitrus saltator; Aontrolled study; Illumination; Insect; Light; Moon compass; Orientation; Newborn; Night; Nonhuman; Orienting response
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3199

Citazioni: 31
dati da “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) aggiornati al: 2025-05-18
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