Evidence that fin whales respond to the geomagnetic field during migration
We challenge the hypothesis that fin whales use a magnetic sense to guide migration by testing for associations between geophysical parameters and the positions where fin whales were observed over the continental shelf off the northeastern United States. Monte Carlo simulations estimated the probabi...
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ftciteseerx:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.490.5014 2023-05-15T16:13:19+02:00 Evidence that fin whales respond to the geomagnetic field during migration M. Walker Joseph L. Kirschvink Gufran Ahmed Andrew E. Dizon The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives 1992 application/pdf http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.490.5014 http://jeb.biologists.org/content/171/1/67.full.pdf en eng http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.490.5014 http://jeb.biologists.org/content/171/1/67.full.pdf Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. http://jeb.biologists.org/content/171/1/67.full.pdf text 1992 ftciteseerx 2016-01-08T08:29:04Z We challenge the hypothesis that fin whales use a magnetic sense to guide migration by testing for associations between geophysical parameters and the positions where fin whales were observed over the continental shelf off the northeastern United States. Monte Carlo simulations estimated the probability that the distribution of fin whale sightings was random with respect to bottom depth, bottom slope and the intensity and gradient of the geomagnetic field. The simulations demonstrated no overall association of sighting positions with any of these four geophysical parameters. Analysis of the data by season, however, demonstrated statistically reliable associations of sighting positions with areas of low geomagnetic intensity and gradient in winter and fall, respectively, but no association of sighting positions with bathymetric parameters in any season. An attempt to focus on migrating animals by excluding those observed feeding confirmed the associations of sighting positions with low geomagnetic intensity and gradient in winter and fall, respectively, and revealed additional associations with low geomagnetic gradients in winter and spring. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that fin whales, and perhaps other mysticete species, possess a magnetic sense that they use to guide migration. Text Fin whale Unknown |
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English |
description |
We challenge the hypothesis that fin whales use a magnetic sense to guide migration by testing for associations between geophysical parameters and the positions where fin whales were observed over the continental shelf off the northeastern United States. Monte Carlo simulations estimated the probability that the distribution of fin whale sightings was random with respect to bottom depth, bottom slope and the intensity and gradient of the geomagnetic field. The simulations demonstrated no overall association of sighting positions with any of these four geophysical parameters. Analysis of the data by season, however, demonstrated statistically reliable associations of sighting positions with areas of low geomagnetic intensity and gradient in winter and fall, respectively, but no association of sighting positions with bathymetric parameters in any season. An attempt to focus on migrating animals by excluding those observed feeding confirmed the associations of sighting positions with low geomagnetic intensity and gradient in winter and fall, respectively, and revealed additional associations with low geomagnetic gradients in winter and spring. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that fin whales, and perhaps other mysticete species, possess a magnetic sense that they use to guide migration. |
author2 |
The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
format |
Text |
author |
M. Walker Joseph L. Kirschvink Gufran Ahmed Andrew E. Dizon |
spellingShingle |
M. Walker Joseph L. Kirschvink Gufran Ahmed Andrew E. Dizon Evidence that fin whales respond to the geomagnetic field during migration |
author_facet |
M. Walker Joseph L. Kirschvink Gufran Ahmed Andrew E. Dizon |
author_sort |
M. Walker |
title |
Evidence that fin whales respond to the geomagnetic field during migration |
title_short |
Evidence that fin whales respond to the geomagnetic field during migration |
title_full |
Evidence that fin whales respond to the geomagnetic field during migration |
title_fullStr |
Evidence that fin whales respond to the geomagnetic field during migration |
title_full_unstemmed |
Evidence that fin whales respond to the geomagnetic field during migration |
title_sort |
evidence that fin whales respond to the geomagnetic field during migration |
publishDate |
1992 |
url |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.490.5014 http://jeb.biologists.org/content/171/1/67.full.pdf |
genre |
Fin whale |
genre_facet |
Fin whale |
op_source |
http://jeb.biologists.org/content/171/1/67.full.pdf |
op_relation |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.490.5014 http://jeb.biologists.org/content/171/1/67.full.pdf |
op_rights |
Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
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1765998982967853056 |