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A study by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has confirmed for the first time the ability of sea turtles to remember the magnetic signatures of locations, which explains their extraordinary navigational accuracy during migration.
Sea turtles, particularly loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), navigate the ocean using a unique mechanism that resembles a “secret GPS.” Scientists have long suspected that these animals can learn to distinguish between the magnetic signatures of different regions, but only now has empirical evidence been obtained for this phenomenon. As the study’s first author, Kayla Goforth, explains,
The study was based on controlled experiments in which turtles were exposed to artificially generated magnetic fields while feeding. As a result, the animals showed the ability to associate these signals with specific locations, which confirms their navigational memory. In captivity, young individuals displayed so-called "dancing behavior" in anticipation of food under the influence of familiar magnetic fields, indicating their ability to learn.
An important discovery was the discovery of two separate magnetic senses in turtles: one for location and one for orientation. This discovery could help in the conservation of sea turtle populations by providing a better understanding of how anthropogenic factors, including man-made magnetic disturbances, affect their ability to navigate. Professor Catherine Lohmann says:
The research findings could also be applied to other migratory animals that use magnetic signals for navigation. According to Professor Ken Lohmann,
The data obtained open new perspectives in the study of animal navigation and may inspire the development of innovative orientation technologies.
