Insect light-dependent magnetoreception is not lost in red
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| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Impacts of light on animal magnetoreception define properties of biochemical reactions sensitive to magnetic field of the Earth. We have tested insect behavioral reactions to directional magnetic stimuli mediated likely by mammalian Cry2 under 10 wavelengths from UV 365 nm to red 662 nm under different intensities of light. As predicted, we have found a reception under UV and blue lights. A steep decline of magnetic sensitivity just following 505 nm green was recorded. In contradiction with expectations, after a limited gap at around 540 nm, magnetoreception appeared again in yellow light 590 nm, persisted in red 635 nm and finally disappeared in 662 nm lights. We discuss possibilities whether and how radical pair machanism may still be involved in magnetoreception in wavelengths longer than absorption limit of FADox. The idea of two cooperating/antagonistic photosystems suggested previosly for some magnetic compass phenomena is discussed as well. The work was supported by Czech Grant Agency grant GA13-11908J. |
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