On February 24, researchers in
Current Biology figured out how the loggerhead sea turtles find their way across their mind-blowing transoceanic migration. The most difficult task of open-sea navigation is calculating longitude; after all, it took humans centuries to discover ways to track the east-west position of ships on voyages. However a recent study proved how the turtles pick up on magnetic signatures in space to help determine their position. They rely on the angle where the magnetic field lines intersect Earth and the strength of that magnetic field, setting them apart from other species who use the same technique. Kenneth Lohmann of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill noted that "One of the great mysteries of animal behavior is how migratory animals can navigate in the open ocean, where there are no visual landmarks."
My sister was able to volunteer with a sea turtle rescue program down at UNCW and my interest in sea turtles has definitely broadened after hearing about it; that's why this article grabbed my attention. I think this discovery will help biologists be able to understand the phenomenon of a sea turtle's life and all they must go through. It certainly proves what wondrous abilities they possess- something that's far different from that of a human's mind. I agree with Kenneth Lohmann and what a great mystery this aspect of animal behavior truly is. I plan to find out more about how they make such strong of a connection, so I hope more research will be conducted.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110224121855.htm
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