GPS mounted on the bat was revealed that mammals have a "map" to pinpoint the location when flying. The map helps bats, in addition to using the principle of resonance, to navigate.
Researchers of cross-institutional reviewed the fly behavior Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Every night, the animals always return to the same tree.
This routine activity makes the researchers believe that bats use large trees, hills, clouds and other markers as a benchmark. In addition, they have a biological compass.
To test this theory, they pair the GPS device weighing 10 grams and its position logger memory. Bat then released from the cave around the City of Beit Shemesh, Israel, and then fly at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour in search of food from the tree as far as 12-25 kilometers.
Although located very far away, bats can always mark the same tree. Therefore, researchers believe the fruit bats do not use smell as a navigation tool.
Researchers then find out more. This time the starting point in the desert as far as 44 kilometers south of the cave where he lives. Some bats are released on an empty stomach, while others are in a state filled stomach. The result, hungry bats flew straight to the food source tree, while the bats fed back into the cave of origin.
From this researcher believes that these bats use natural markers as a guide path. They traveled in a certain direction to find a hill or human settlements are treated as a stepping stone. Natural marker is then mapped in the brain.
"Cognitive maps of large-scale allows bats to fly around the area that has been recorded in their heads," said Asaf Tsoar ecology researchers from the University of Jerusalem in his paper.
At distances very far, researchers found other navigational techniques. According to them, bats also use the special senses the magnetic field or the smell of salt blown from the Mediterranean Sea to the Negev Desert as a benchmark.
*** [WIRED | PNAS.ORG | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3627]
GPS mounted on the bat was revealed that mammals have a "map" to pinpoint the location when flying. The map helps bats, in addition to using the principle of resonance, to navigate.
Researchers of cross-institutional reviewed the fly behavior Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Every night, the animals always return to the same tree.
This routine activity makes the researchers believe that bats use large trees, hills, clouds and other markers as a benchmark. In addition, they have a biological compass.
To test this theory, they pair the GPS device weighing 10 grams and its position logger memory. Bat then released from the cave around the City of Beit Shemesh, Israel, and then fly at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour in search of food from the tree as far as 12-25 kilometers.
Although located very far away, bats can always mark the same tree. Therefore, researchers believe the fruit bats do not use smell as a navigation tool.
Researchers then find out more. This time the starting point in the desert as far as 44 kilometers south of the cave where he lives. Some bats are released on an empty stomach, while others are in a state filled stomach. The result, hungry bats flew straight to the food source tree, while the bats fed back into the cave of origin.
From this researcher believes that these bats use natural markers as a guide path. They traveled in a certain direction to find a hill or human settlements are treated as a stepping stone. Natural marker is then mapped in the brain.
"Cognitive maps of large-scale allows bats to fly around the area that has been recorded in their heads," said Asaf Tsoar ecology researchers from the University of Jerusalem in his paper.
At distances very far, researchers found other navigational techniques. According to them, bats also use the special senses the magnetic field or the smell of salt blown from the Mediterranean Sea to the Negev Desert as a benchmark. *** [WIRED | PNAS.ORG | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3627]
No comments:
Post a Comment