Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields disrupt magnetic alignment of ruminants

Resting and grazing cattle and deer tend to align their body axes in the geomagnetic North-South direction. The mechanism(s) that underlie this behavior remain unknown. Here, we show that extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELFMFs) generated by high-voltage power lines disrupt alignment of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2009-04, Vol.106 (14), p.5708-5713
Main Authors: Burda, Hynek, Begall, Sabine, Červený, Jaroslav, Neef, Julia, Němec, Pavel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
animal behavior
Animal cognition
Animals
Azimuth
Behavior, Animal
Biological Sciences
body alignment
body orientation
Capreolus capreolus
Cattle
Cells
Compasses
Deer
Electric power lines
electromagnetic field
Electromagnetic Fields
electromagnetic radiation
extremely low-frequency magnetic fields
Grazing
Herds
Magnetic compasses
Magnetic fields
magnetic orientation
magnetism
magnetoreception
Mammals
Molecules
Physiological Phenomena
Power lines
Ruminants - physiology
Vertebrates
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Summary:Resting and grazing cattle and deer tend to align their body axes in the geomagnetic North-South direction. The mechanism(s) that underlie this behavior remain unknown. Here, we show that extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELFMFs) generated by high-voltage power lines disrupt alignment of the bodies of these animals with the geomagnetic field. Body orientation of cattle and roe deer was random on pastures under or near power lines. Moreover, cattle exposed to various magnetic fields directly beneath or in the vicinity of power lines trending in various magnetic directions exhibited distinct patterns of alignment. The disturbing effect of the ELFMFs on body alignment diminished with the distance from conductors. These findings constitute evidence for magnetic sensation in large mammals as well as evidence of an overt behavioral reaction to weak ELFMFs in vertebrates. The demonstrated reaction to weak ELFMFs implies effects at the cellular and molecular levels.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.0811194106