Radiofrequency magnetic fields disrupt magnetoreception in American cockroach.

VÁCHA, Martin, Tereza PŮŽOVÁ and Markéta KVÍČALOVÁ. Radiofrequency magnetic fields disrupt magnetoreception in American cockroach. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2009, vol. 212, No 21, p. 3473-3477. ISSN 0022-0949.

Basic information

• Original name: Radiofrequency magnetic fields disrupt magnetoreception in American cockroach.
• Name in Czech: Radiofrekvenční magnetická pole ruší magnetorecepci u švába amerického.
• Authors: VÁCHA, Martin (203 Czech Republic, guarantor), Tereza PŮŽOVÁ (203 Czech Republic) and Markéta KVÍČALOVÁ (203 Czech Republic).
• Edition: Journal of Experimental Biology, 2009, 0022-0949.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30105 Physiology
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 2.722
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/09:00029450
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• UT WoS: 000270889100019
• Keywords in English: Magnetoreception Insects Radical-Pair Radio frequency Cryptochrome
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

The sense that allows the birds to orient themselves by the Earth's magnetic field can be disabled by an oscillating magnetic field whose intensity is just a fraction of the geomagnetic field intensity and whose oscillations fall into the medium or high frequency radio wave bands. This remarkable phenomenon points very clearly at one of two existing alternative magnetoreception mechanisms in terrestrial animals, i.e. the mechanism based on the radical pair reactions of specific photosensitive molecules. As the first such study in invertebrates, our work offers evidence that geomagnetic field reception in American cockroach is sensitive to a weak radiofrequency field. Furthermore, we show that the deafening effect at Larmor frequency 1.2 MHz is stronger than at different frequencies. The parameter studied was the rise in locomotor activity of cockroaches induced by periodic changes in the geomagnetic North positions by 60. The onset of the disruptive effect of 1.2 MHz field was found between 12 nT and 18 nT while the threshold of doubled frequency field 2.4 MHz fell between 18 and 44 nT. 7 MHz field showed no impact even in maximal 44 nT magnetic flux density. The results indicate resonance effects rather than non-specific bias of procedure itself and suggest that insects may be equipped with the same magnetoreception system as the birds.

Abstract (in Czech)

The sense that allows the birds to orient themselves by the Earth's magnetic field can be disabled by an oscillating magnetic field whose intensity is just a fraction of the geomagnetic field intensity and whose oscillations fall into the medium or high frequency radio wave bands. This remarkable phenomenon points very clearly at one of two existing alternative magnetoreception mechanisms in terrestrial animals, i.e. the mechanism based on the radical pair reactions of specific photosensitive molecules. As the first such study in invertebrates, our work offers evidence that geomagnetic field reception in American cockroach is sensitive to a weak radiofrequency field. Furthermore, we show that the deafening effect at Larmor frequency 1.2 MHz is stronger than at different frequencies. The parameter studied was the rise in locomotor activity of cockroaches induced by periodic changes in the geomagnetic North positions by 60. The onset of the disruptive effect of 1.2 MHz field was found between 12 nT and 18 nT while the threshold of doubled frequency field 2.4 MHz fell between 18 and 44 nT. 7 MHz field showed no impact even in maximal 44 nT magnetic flux density. The results indicate resonance effects rather than non-specific bias of procedure itself and suggest that insects may be equipped with the same magnetoreception system as the birds.

Links

• GC206/07/J041, research and development project: Name: Neurální podstata magnetorecepce hmyzu.

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Towards the neuronal basis of insect magnetoreception

• MSM0021622416, plan (intention): Name: Diverzita biotických společenstev a populací: kauzální analýza variability v prostoru a čase

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, Diversity of Biotic Communities and Populations: Causal Analysis of variation in space and time