The orientation system of birds — II. Homing and navigation

Wiltschko, Roswitha; Wiltschko, Wolfgang

doi:10.1007/bf01653595

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…In this respect, experience must include learning and memory mechanisms in order to improve navigation abilities and maintain cognitive maps (inherited or acquired by experience). These mechanisms have been suggested as a tool for spatial orientation of long-distance migration in birds (Wiltschko and Wiltschko, 1999). However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has yet examined whether a relationship exist between migratory behavior and new neuronal recruitment in brains of non-passerine species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Relationship between Brain Plasticity, Migratory Lifestyle, and Social Structure in Birds

2017

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Studies in Passerines have found that migrating species recruit more new neurons into brain regions that process spatial information, compared with resident species. This was explained by the greater exposure of migrants to spatial information, indicating that this phenomenon enables enhanced navigational abilities. The aim of the current study was to test this hypothesis in another order—the Columbiformes – using two closely-related dove species—the migrant turtle-dove (Streptopelia turtur) and the resident laughing dove (S. senegalensis), during spring, summer, and autumn. Wild birds were caught, treated with BrdU, and sacrificed 5 weeks later. New neurons were recorded in the hyperpallium apicale, hippocampus and nidopallium caudolaterale regions. We found that in doves, unlike passerines, neuronal recruitment was lower in brains of the migratory species compared with the resident one. This might be due to the high sociality of doves, which forage and migrate in flocks, and therefore can rely on communal spatial knowledge that might enable a reduction in individual navigation efforts. This, in turn, might enable reduced levels of neuronal recruitment. Additionally, we found that unlike in passerines, seasonality does not affect neuronal recruitment in doves. This might be due to their non-territorial and explorative behavior, which exposes them to substantial spatial information all year round. Finally, we discuss the differences in neuronal recruitment between Columbiformes and Passeriformes and their possible evolutionary explanations. Our study emphasizes the need to further investigate this phenomenon in other avian orders and in additional species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Relationship between Brain Plasticity, Migratory Lifestyle, and Social Structure in Birds

2017

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“…Er weiû auch, dass diese Hypothese, wie nicht anders zu erwarten, auf schwachen Fu Èûen steht, da sie von einer Reihe unrealistischer Pra Èmissen ausgeht (Schmidt-Koenig 1985. Es erscheint somit angemessen, dass die behauptete olfaktorische Navigation in einem aktuellen U È bersichtsartikel u Èber das Heimfindevermo Ègen der Vo Ègel (Wiltschko & Wiltschko 1999) keinen Platz gefunden hat. Im Ergebnis erwecken die genannten Darstellungen den Eindruck, es habe auf diesem Gebiet seit Gustav Kramer (1959b) keinen nennenswerten Fortschritt gegeben.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Zur olfaktorischen Navigation der Vögel

Wallraff

2003

J Ornithol

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Summary Olfactory navigation by birds In contrast to earlier navigation hypotheses, based as they are on theoretical constructs deduced from our knowledge of the physical world, the notion of olfactory navigation is an unexpected outcome of empirical research. Referring to sceptical articles on the issue in this journal and elsewhere (e. g. Schmidt‐Koenig 1985, 1987, 2001, Wiltschko 1996), and in order to fill a gap in a recent review on avian navigation (Wiltschko & Wiltschko 1999), I describe the most instructive experiments providing evidence that birds are able to home by utilizing atmospheric trace gases perceived by the sense of smell. (1) When released in an unfamiliar distant area, homing pigeons with bisected olfactory nerves fly considerable distances, but fail to approach the home site (Fig. 1, 2, 3). Largely analogous treatments in control birds and experimentals make it extremely unlikely that the failures are due to non‐olfactory side‐effects. (2) Elimination of trace gases from the inhaled air by means of charcoal filters prior to release, combined with nasal anaesthesia upon release, prevents initial homeward orientation, whereas nasal anaesthesia alone (after smelling of natural release‐site air) does not (Fig. 5). (3) Pigeons exposed to natural air at one site and released, without access to natural air, at a quite different site, fly in a direction corresponding to homeward from the site of exposure, but not from the current actual position (Fig. 6). (4) Long‐term screening from winds in an aviary at home prevents subsequent homeward orientation from distant sites. Deflecting or reversing winds in a home aviary results in accordingly deflected or reversed orientation (Fig. 7). (5) From areas made familiar by previous flights homing is possible also on a non‐olfactory basis. This can be explained in terms of the utilisation of visual landscape features.  In as far as related experiments were conducted using reliable methods, the results are unequivocal. On the whole, they can be understood only provided that the birds are able to deduce their position relative to the home site from atmospheric trace gases, and that this ability requires previous opportunity to correlate current wind conditions with simultaneous olfactory conditions at the home site over a lengthy period of time. As an attempt to explain the underlying system, a working hypothesis is presented which postulates that (a) long‐range gradients exist in the ratios among several airborne trace substances and that (b) their directions can be derived, at the home site, from changes of ratios in dependence on wind direction. Atmospheric hydrocarbons investigated by means of gas chromatography in an area covering 400 km in diameter did in fact include such postulated ratio gradients (Fig. 8). Their directions were fairly stable even under varying conditions of weather and winds. Correlations among gradient directions and changes of ratios according to wind directions were also found, but the long‐term angular relationships have not yet ...

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Das Orientierungssystem der Vögel IV. Evolution

Wiltschko

1999

J Ornithol

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The orientation system of birds — II. Homing and navigation

Cited by 6 publications

References 87 publications

Exploring the Relationship between Brain Plasticity, Migratory Lifestyle, and Social Structure in Birds

Exploring the Relationship between Brain Plasticity, Migratory Lifestyle, and Social Structure in Birds

Zur olfaktorischen Navigation der Vögel

Das Orientierungssystem der Vögel IV. Evolution

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