Project description
Understanding the Earth’s magnetic field in butterfly migration
Millions of Monarch butterflies migrate up to 5 000 km to their overwintering sites each fall. During this journey, they rely on various cues to maintain their southward flight direction. While they are sensitive to magnetic information, the exact role of this sensitivity in migration remains unclear. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, the SixthSense project will investigate the significance of the Earth’s magnetic field in butterfly migration. It will explore whether butterflies use magnetic cues for navigation and how their brains process this information. Additionally, the project will examine how the magnetic field serves as a stable reference for compass calibration.
Objective
Each fall, millions of Monarch butterflies take off from to migrate over up to 5.000 km to their overwintering sites. During their long journey, they employ a wide range of cues to maintain their southerly flight direction. While monarch butterflies have been shown to be sensitive to magnetic information, its role during migration remains elusive. In this project, I will test the role of the Earths magnetic field during migration. Using a double-wrapped 3D-Helmoltz coil, I will study whether butterflies can use magnetic cues as a compass to keep their migratory direction (Magnetic Compass). In addition, by virtually displacing migratory Monarch butterflies, I will investigate whether they can also determine a specific goal location or even their own global position based on magnetic cues (Magnetic Map).
I will next study the neural coding of magnetic information in the Monarch brain. I will target candidate compass neurons within the navigation network of the central complex using multichannel tetrode recordings. I specifically aim to obtain recordings from the head-direction neurons during magnetic field manipulation. I will test how the different magnetic field components are encoded in central complex neurons. In this way, I aim to obtain a detailed picture of the neuronal correlate for magnetic orientation.
Besides compass or map, magnetic cues could also be used for compass calibration. While time compensation is a crucial aspect of a navigation, how it is established at a neuronal level remains elusive. I will investigate the role of the magnetic field as a geo-stable reference system for compass calibration. To do so, I will combine magnetic manipulations and a simulated sun stimulus to create cue-conflicts. I will use extracellular tetrode recordings in tethered navigating butterflies, to investigate the influence of cue-conflicts on the neural coding. I aim to unravel how magnetic and celestial cues are integrated to create a time-compensated sun compass.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7491 TRONDHEIM
Norway
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