Migration and navigation

Question 1

Name two orientation tools.

Answer 1

Beaconing- Head towards a prominent feature of the goal, could be a visual aspect of the goal or an odour emanating from it

Trail following- using a chemical substrate.

Question 2

Give 3 methods of homing

Answer 2

Route reversal- going back the way you came.
Path integration- taking short route home from goal point
Landmarks- using landmarks to make route.

Question 3

Give 3 methods of navigation of the desert ant.

Answer 3

odometer
optic flow
stop and look
polarisation compass

Question 4

Name 4 types of compass used for long distance navigation

Answer 4

1. Sun- rotational position of the earth, internal clock
2. Polarisation- Many animals use the polarization patterns of the sky at twilight and throughout the day as a navigation tool. Because it is determined purely by the position of the sun, it is easily used as a compass for animal orientation. By orienting themselves with respect to the polarization patterns, animals can locate the sun and thus determine the cardinal directions.
3. Star-
4. Magnetic- Earth’s magnetic field is a dipole. (birds show restlessness at time of normal migration, hop in direction of migration in an emlen funnel)

Question 5

Give 2 types f map used by animals

Answer 5

Cognitive map- Clark’s nutcracker, learns geometric relationships between landmarks to retrieve food stores.

Olfactory map- homing pigeons construct a map from distribution of environmental odours. Pigeons with right nostril covered had a less smooth journey than unmanipulated pigeons.

Question 6

Define migration

Answer 6

Movement in response to seasonal changes in habitat.

Question 7

Define navigation

Answer 7

Directed movement towards a goal/target location.

Question 8

Define orientation

Answer 8

Taking up a particular direction irrespective of destination.

Question 9

How far does a wandering albatross travel on a foraging trip?

Answer 9

up to 15,000km

Question 10

Describe the arctic tern migration

Answer 10

35,000km between northern and southern hemispheres

Question 11

Give three reasons for migrating and an example of each

Answer 11

Resources- zebras to Okavango delta during dry season as it is wet there.
Breeding- Christmas island crabs from forest to ocean to release eggs into the sea (120 million crabs).
Overwintering- Monarch butterflies from north of USA to Mexico or California.