Endangered freshwater turtles
Sea turtles can sense the Earth’s magnetic field and use it to establish geographic maps that allow them to migrate between their home beaches and forage areas. These are the results of a study carried out by the Autonomous University of Mexico (UAM) that is published in the journal Advances in Bioscience .
Although the idea that turtles have a magnetic sensory field is not new, until now this theory has not been confirmed. The researchers used specimens of black sea turtle ( Chelonia agassizi ) and applied controlled magnetic stimuli to them. In this way, they identified a group of neurons that are activated in the eye and found that this is the primary receptor organ for perceived magnetic information. The person responsible for the transformation of magnetic data into neural electrical signals is carried out by iron oxide crystals, an element that is also present in the eye.
In addition, the scientists found changes in the electrical potentials of the brain and a modification in swimming patterns when they applied magnetic stimuli. This shows that turtles are capable of interpreting environmental magnetic information and making decisions based on it . This extraordinary ability would allow them to carry out their great migrations or to accurately remember the location of their beach of birth, even after several decades of life.
