Anthropogenic electromagnetic noise disrupts magnetic compass orientation in a migratory bird

Svenja Engels, Nils-Lasse Schneider, Nele Lefeldt, Christine Maira Hein, Manuela Zapka, Andreas Michalik, Dana Elbers, Achim Kittel, P. J. Hore and Henrik Mouritsen ()
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Svenja Engels: Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
Nils-Lasse Schneider: Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
Nele Lefeldt: Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
Christine Maira Hein: Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
Manuela Zapka: Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
Andreas Michalik: Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
Dana Elbers: Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
Achim Kittel: Institute of Physics, University of Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
P. J. Hore: University of Oxford, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford OX1 3QZ, UK
Henrik Mouritsen: Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany

Nature, 2014, vol. 509, issue 7500, 353-356

Abstract: For the first time under reproducible and fully double-blinded conditions, it is shown that anthropogenic electromagnetic noise below the WHO limits affects a biological system: night-migrating birds lose the ability to use the Earth’s magnetic field for orientation when exposed to anthropogenic electromagnetic noise at strengths routinely produced by commonly used electronic devices.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/nature13290

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