Chemical compass behaviour at microtesla magnetic fields strengthens the radical pair hypothesis of avian magnetoreception

Christian Kerpal, Sabine Richert, Jonathan G. Storey, Smitha Pillai, Paul A. Liddell, Devens Gust, Stuart R. Mackenzie, P. J. Hore and Christiane R. Timmel ()
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Christian Kerpal: University of Oxford
Sabine Richert: University of Oxford
Jonathan G. Storey: University of Oxford
Smitha Pillai: Arizona State University
Paul A. Liddell: Arizona State University
Devens Gust: Arizona State University
Stuart R. Mackenzie: University of Oxford
P. J. Hore: University of Oxford
Christiane R. Timmel: University of Oxford

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract The fact that many animals, including migratory birds, use the Earth’s magnetic field for orientation and compass-navigation is fascinating and puzzling in equal measure. The physical origin of these phenomena has not yet been fully understood, but arguably the most likely hypothesis is based on the radical pair mechanism (RPM). Whilst the theoretical framework of the RPM is well-established, most experimental investigations have been conducted at fields several orders of magnitude stronger than the Earth’s. Here we use transient absorption spectroscopy to demonstrate a pronounced orientation-dependence of the magnetic field response of a molecular triad system in the field region relevant to avian magnetoreception. The chemical compass response exhibits the properties of an inclination compass as found in migratory birds. The results underline the feasibility of a radical pair based avian compass and also provide further guidelines for the design and operation of exploitable chemical compass systems.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11655-2

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