Effect of magnetic pulses on Caribbean spiny lobsters: implications for magnetoreception

Abstract

The Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, is a migratory crustacean that uses Earth's magnetic field as a navigational cue, but how these lobsters detect magnetic fields is not known. Magnetic material thought to be magnetite has previously been detected in spiny lobsters, but its role in magnetoreception, if any, remains unclear. As a first step toward investigating whether lobsters might have magnetite-based magnetoreceptors, we subjected lobsters to strong, pulsed magnetic fields capable of reversing the magnetic dipole moment of biogenic magnetite crystals. Lobsters were subjected to a single pulse directed from posterior to anterior and either: (1) parallel to the horizontal component of the geomagnetic field (i.e. toward magnetic north); or (2) antiparallel to the horizontal field (i.e. toward magnetic south). An additional control group was handled but not subjected to a magnetic pulse. After treatment, each lobster was tethered in a water-filled arena located within 200 m of the capture location and allowed to walk in any direction. Control lobsters walked in seemingly random directions and were not significantly oriented as a group. In contrast, the two groups exposed to pulsed fields were significantly oriented in approximately opposite directions. Lobsters subjected to a magnetic pulse applied parallel to the geomagnetic horizontal component walked westward; those subjected to a pulse directed antiparallel to the geomagnetic horizontal component oriented approximately northeast. The finding that a magnetic pulse alters subsequent orientation behavior is consistent with the hypothesis that magnetoreception in spiny lobsters is based at least partly on magnetite-based magnetoreceptors.

Transduction of the Geomagnetic Field as Evidenced from alpha-Band Activity in the Human Brain

“…Several biophysical analyses have shown this is a most plausible mechanism (Kirschvink, 1992a; Winklhofer and Kirschvink, 2010). Finally, magnetite-based mechanisms for navigation have been characterized in animals through neurophysiological (Walker et al, 1997), histologic (Diebel et al, 2000), and pulse-remagnetization studies (Kirschvink and Kobayashi-Kirschvink, 1991; Wiltschko et al, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2007, 2009; Wiltschko and Wiltschko, 1995b; Beason et al, 1997; Munro et al, 1997a, b; Irwin and Lohmann, 2005; Holland et al, 2008; Holland, 2010; Holland and Helm, 2013; Ernst and Lohmann, 2016), and biogenic magnetite has been found in human tissues (Kirschvink et al, 1992; Dunn et al, 1995; Kobayashi and Kirschvink, 1995; Schultheiss-Grassi et al, 1999; Maher et al, 2016; Gilder et al, 2018).…”

Global drivers of diversification in a marine species complex

“…Magnetism is also an important cue for adult Western Rock Lobster, Panulirus cygnus (Lestang 2014) and adults and postlarvae of spiny lobster Panulirus argus (Boles & Lohmann 2003; Kough et al . 2014; Ernst & Lohmann 2016). Our results show that genetic diversity of J. lalandii and J. edwardsii is associated with benthic iron.…”

A current synthesis on the effects of electric and magnetic fields emitted by submarine power cables on invertebrates

“…Briefly, as they align under the action of mechanical forces induced by the GMF, either magnetite crystals push on secondary mechano-or hair cells receptors, or else their rotation in cells opens ion channels (e.g., Cadiou and McNaughton, 2010;Eder et al, 2012;reviewed in Shaw et al, 2015;Winklhofer and Kirschvink, 2010). In favour of this mechanism, Ernst and Lohmann (2016) observed orientation changes in Carribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) in response to magnetic pulses that cause magnetite rotation. Natan and Vortman (2017) also proposed that symbiotic magneto-tactic bacteria (containing magnetite particles), capable of detecting the GMF declination angle (angle between geographic and geomagnetic norths), could be the source of magneto-sensing in animals.…”