Cattle on pastures do align along the North–South axis, but the
alignment depends on herd density

J 2013

Cattle on pastures do align along the North–South axis, but the alignment depends on herd density

SLABÝ, Pavel, Kateřina TOMANOVÁ and Martin VÁCHA

Basic information

Original name

Cattle on pastures do align along the North–South axis, but the alignment depends on herd density

Authors

SLABÝ, Pavel (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Kateřina TOMANOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Martin VÁCHA (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 2013, 0340-7594

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30105 Physiology

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.634

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/13:00069007

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00359-013-0827-5

UT WoS

000322028800003

Keywords (in Czech)

magnetický alignment krávy pozice replikační studie magnetorecepce

Keywords in English

magnetic alignment cattle positions replication magnetoreception

Abstract

V originále

Alignment is a spontaneous behavioral preference of particular body orientation that may be seen in various vertebrate or invertebrate taxa. Animals often optimize their positions according to diverse directional environmental factors such as wind, stream, slope, sun radiation, etc. Magnetic alignment represents the simplest directional response to the geomagnetic field and a growing body of evidence of animals aligning their body positions according to geomagnetic lines whether at rest or during feedings is accumulating. Recently, with the aid of Google Earth application, evidence of prevailing North–South (N–S) body orientation of cattle on pastures was published (Begall et al. PNAS 105:13451–13455, 2008; Burda et al. PNAS 106:5708–5713, 2009). Nonetheless, a subsequent study from a different laboratory did not confirm this phenomenon (Hert et al. J Comp Physiol A 197:677–682, 2011). The aim of our study was to enlarge the pool of independently gained data on this remarkable animal behavior. By satellite snapshots analysis and using blinded protocol we scored positions of 2,235 individuals in 74 herds. Our results are in line with the original findings of prevailing N–S orientation of grazing cattle. In addition, we found that mutual distances between individual animals within herds (herd density) affect their N–S preference a new phenomenon giving some insight into biological significance of alignment.

Citovat

SLABÝ, Pavel, Kateřina TOMANOVÁ and Martin VÁCHA. Cattle on pastures do align along the North–South axis, but the alignment depends on herd density. Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 2013, vol. 199, No 8, p. 695-701. ISSN 0340-7594. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00359-013-0827-5.

@article{1119334,
   author = {Slabý, Pavel and Tomanová, Kateřina and Vácha, Martin},
   article_number = {8},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00359-013-0827-5},
   keywords = {magnetic alignment cattle positions replication magnetoreception},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0340-7594},
   journal = {Journal of Comparative Physiology A},
   title = {Cattle on pastures do align along the North–South axis, but the alignment depends on herd density},
   volume = {199},
   year = {2013}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1119334
AU  - Slabý, Pavel - Tomanová, Kateřina - Vácha, Martin
PY  - 2013
TI  - Cattle on pastures do align along the North–South axis, but the alignment depends on herd density
JF  - Journal of Comparative Physiology A
VL  - 199
IS  - 8
SP  - 695-701
EP  - 695-701
SN  - 03407594
KW  - magnetic alignment cattle positions replication magnetoreception
N2  - Alignment is a spontaneous behavioral preference of particular body orientation that may be seen in various vertebrate or invertebrate taxa. Animals often optimize their positions according to diverse directional environmental factors such as wind, stream, slope, sun radiation, etc. Magnetic alignment represents the simplest directional response to the geomagnetic field and a growing body of evidence of animals aligning their body positions according to geomagnetic lines whether at rest or during feedings is accumulating. Recently, with the aid of Google Earth application, evidence of prevailing North–South (N–S) body orientation of cattle on pastures was published (Begall et al. PNAS 105:13451–13455, 2008; Burda et al. PNAS 106:5708–5713, 2009). Nonetheless, a subsequent study from a different laboratory did not confirm this phenomenon (Hert et al. J Comp Physiol A 197:677–682, 2011). The aim of our study was to enlarge the pool of independently gained data on this remarkable animal behavior. By satellite snapshots analysis and using blinded protocol we scored positions of 2,235 individuals in 74 herds. Our results are in line with the original findings of prevailing N–S orientation of grazing cattle. In addition, we found that mutual distances between individual animals within herds (herd density) affect their N–S preference a new phenomenon giving some insight into biological significance of alignment.
ER  -

SLABÝ, Pavel, Kateřina TOMANOVÁ and Martin VÁCHA. Cattle on pastures do align along the North–South axis, but the alignment depends on herd density. \textit{Journal of Comparative Physiology A}. 2013, vol.~199, No~8, p.~695-701. ISSN~0340-7594. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00359-013-0827-5.

Detailed Information on Publication Record