Magnetic particles in the lateral line of the Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.)

Magnetization measurements with a superconducting quantum inference device magnetometer of various tissues of the Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) have shown the presence of magnetic material associated with the lateral line. The data suggest that the material is magnetite and of a size suitable fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 1990
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1990.0145
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rstb.1990.0145
Description
Summary:Magnetization measurements with a superconducting quantum inference device magnetometer of various tissues of the Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) have shown the presence of magnetic material associated with the lateral line. The data suggest that the material is magnetite and of a size suitable for magnetoreception. Magnetic particles were isolated from the lateral line and nerve tissue, which have characteristics suggesting that the material is magnetite and of biogenic origin. The magnetic particles and their association with the lateral line are discussed in relation to their possible role in allowing the salmon to orientate with respect to the geomagnetic field during the high-seas phase of their migration.