Data from: Homing pigeon navigation relies on superparamagnetic macrophages under overcast conditions
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Lisowski C, Quetting M, Klaus D, Lazarevski L, Seep L, Germer M, Li J, Mueller I, Zuñiga D, Fiedler W, Dechmann DKN, Thorup K, Hasenauer J, Fester L, Kuerten S, Farle M, Wiedwald U, Wikelski M, Kurts C. 2026. Data from: Homing pigeon navigation relies on superparamagnetic macrophages under overcast conditions. Movebank Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.744_2Abstract
Birds use a variety of navigational strategies, including the geomagnetic field, especially when other cues are not available, such as under overcast or nocturnal conditions. Magnetite particles in the beak, cryptochromes in the eye, cellular ion-channel alterations, and changes in the vestibular system have been proposed to explain magnetoreception, but the exact mechanisms remain debated. Here, we used physical, morphological, functional, and genomic assays to identify the presence of superparamagnetic macrophages in the liver. We found that after macrophage depletion, pigeons flying under overcast conditions lacked their usual orientation capabilities. Orientation was unimpaired in birds without macrophages when the sun was visible, suggesting that this was their primary cue. We propose that in homing pigeons, superparamagnetic macrophages in the liver are required for finding magnetic direction.
Keywords
Columba livia, animal tracking, GPS, homing pigeons, navigation
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BibTex
@misc{001/1_744_2,
title = {Data from: Homing pigeon navigation relies on superparamagnetic macrophages under overcast conditions},
author = {Lisowski, C and Quetting, M and Klaus, D and Lazarevski, L and Seep, L and Germer, M and Li, J and Mueller, I and Zuñiga, D and Fiedler, W and Dechmann, DKN and Thorup, K and Hasenauer, J and Fester, L and Kuerten, S and Farle, M and Wiedwald, U and Wikelski, M and Kurts, C},
year = {2026},
URL = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.744_2},
doi = {doi:10.5441/001/1.744_2},
publisher = {Movebank data repository}
}RIS
TY - DATA ID - doi:10.5441/001/1.744_2 T1 - Data from: Homing pigeon navigation relies on superparamagnetic macrophages under overcast conditions AU - Lisowski, Clivia AU - Quetting, Michael AU - Klaus, Daniela AU - Lazarevski, Lisa AU - Seep, Lea AU - Germer, Maximilian AU - Li, Jian AU - Mueller, Inge AU - Zuñiga, Daniel AU - Fiedler, Wolfgang AU - Dechmann, Dina K.N. AU - Thorup, Kasper AU - Hasenauer, Jan AU - Fester, Lars AU - Kuerten, Stefanie AU - Farle, Michael AU - Wiedwald, Ulf AU - Wikelski, Martin AU - Kurts, Christian Y1 - 2026/06/14 KW - Columba livia KW - animal tracking KW - GPS KW - homing pigeons KW - navigation KW - Columba livia PB - Movebank data repository UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.744_2 DO - doi:10.5441/001/1.744_2 ER -