135

The Coupling of Atmospheric Electromagnetic Fields

 

behavior and magnetoreception has also been reported for red fox (Vulpes vulpes), which are widespread

in the northern hemisphere (Červenŷ et al., 2011). Observations and records were taken of 592 jump­

ing behaviors and the direction they were facing during predation in 84 red foxes, mainly in the Czech

Republic. In particular, when capturing prey hiding under the snow, jumping in a certain direction

increases the success rate. Te specifc direction is related to the earth’s geomagnetic felds. Te red

fox’s behavior incorporates a magnetic compass. Te same research group reported that domestic dogs

were found to be sensitive to small variations of the earth’s magnetic feld. Dogs align their body axis

with north-south axis direction of the geomagnetic feld for defecation and urination habits (Hart et al.,

2013b). Tey reported also that domestic cattle as well as grazing resting wild deer, red deer (Cervus

alphas), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) with the bodies aligned in the north-south direction, but

that this aligned behavior is randomized in areas directly under or near power transmission lines which

generates ELF-EMF (Begall et al., 2008).

Many animals have the ability to use the geomagnetic compass, including the long-distance migrat­

ing monarch butterfy, salmon returning to their home rivers; cetaceans and sea turtle are also known to

use geomagnetism. Monarch butterfy migrates thousands of kilometers. Tey have substantially more

magnetic material than other butterfies. Te American monarch butterfy (Danaus plexippuis) inhabit­

ing the North American continent migrates from Mexico to Southern Canada. It has been reported that

they may use a magnetic compass as well as a solar compass for nearly 4,000 km migration (Guerra et al.,

2014). Monarchs have light-sensitive magnetoreceptors which serve as an inclination compass.

It has been hypothesized that migratory cetaceans use magnetic anomalies as indicators of direc­

tion determination, navigation, and course determination. Some studies have confrmed this hypoth­

esis with erroneous landward and stranding behavior during seasonal long-distance migrations. Te

distribution of geomagnetic felds is greatly afected by local topographic changes and is observed as a

magnetic anomaly. Conversely, the point where the magnetic anomaly becomes weak can also be con­

sidered a magnetic anomaly. Margaret Klinowska, biologist at the University of Cambridge, has com­

piled a record of 3,000 cases of stranding over past 70 years that are preserved in the British Museum.

Klinowska analyzed all reports on passive stranding (dead body) and active stranding (live animal)

along the British coastlines (1985, 1986). She found that the diference between passive stranding and

active stranding. Live stranding is associated with geomagnetic disturbances. Te pattern of magnetic

disturbance, not the absolute level of disturbance is the key factor for live stranding at all latitudes

investigated. Further, Kirschvink professor of California Institute of Technology and his co-workers

tested the hypothesis that cetaceans use weak anomalies in the geomagnetic feld as cues for orientation,

navigation, and/or piloting (1986). Live stranding of whales has also been correlated with local geomag­

netic anomalies. Kirschvink employed 212 stranding events of live animals (active stranding) recorded

and preserved at the Smithsonian Institution and data on stranding locations along the US East Coast

to examine the correspondence between magnetic topographic changes and stranding locations (1986).

Tey found that there are highly signifcant tendencies for cetaceans to beach themselves near coastal

locations with local magnetic minima. Afer confrming these signifcant efects by Monte-Carlo simu­

lations, he suggested that cetaceans may be sensing local geomagnetic fuctuations. Tis suggested that

cetaceans have a magnetic sensing system comparable to those of other migratory and homing animals,

which suggests that magnetic topography and the magnetic lineation of the ocean play an important

role in guiding long distance migration.

Ferromagnetic materials in biological organisms interact with the earth’s magnetic feld to pro­

duce torque that can be sensed by some organisms and can provide a mechanism for sensing direction

(Blakemore, 1975; Blakemore et al., 1981). Te magnetic properties of magnetite crystal are related to

the size and confguration of the material. If the balance between static magnetic energy and the wall

energy in the magnetic domain of large crystals is considered, the situation becomes that of a multiple,

magnetic-domain structure. However, for small crystals of less than 1 μm, a single-domain structure is

more stable. If the crystals are much smaller, the anisotropic energy becomes about the level of thermal

energy (kT) and the crystal becomes super-paramagnetic because of Brownian movement.