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Antibiotics affect migratory restlessness orientation

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Abstract

The role of microbiome in shaping animal’s behavior is well established. Accordingly, the use of antibiotics may have profound effects on behavior, which are seldom examined. Recently, the symbiotic magnetic-sensing hypothesis has been forwarded as a mechanistic explanation for the phenomenon of animal magnetoreception. It suggests a symbiotic relationship between magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) and the navigating host. To establish a research protocol for future behavioral studies, we examined the effect of a widely used antibiotic substance on migratory restlessness orientation and on magnetotactic bacteria. Using migrating Eurasian reed warblers, we show that in contrast to the control group, antibiotic treatment caused a lack of clear directionality in an Emlen funnel experiment. Accordingly, the antibiotic treatment group showed a significant increase in directional variance. This effect of antibiotics on behaviors associated with animal magnetic sensing might be considered as preliminary experimental support of the symbiotic magnetic-sensing hypothesis. Further, we lay a preliminary experimental protocol that could be implemented in experiments aiming to prove or refute the symbiotic magnetic sensing hypothesis.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Shay Agmon of the Hula ringing station and the Hula Research Center staff for their assistance throughout the project. We further wish to thank the KKL-JNF for supporting the Hula Research Center. This research was supported by the Israel Science Foundation (grant No. 1350/21).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Hula Research Center, Tel-Hai College, Qiryat-Shmona, Israel

    Yuval Werber

  2. The Aleph Lab, Oxford, England

    Eviatar Natan

  3. Department of Computer Sciences, Tel Hai College, Qiryat-Shmona, Israel

    Yizhar Lavner

  4. Department of Animal Sciences, Hula Research Center, Tel-Hai College, Qiryat-Shmona, Israel

    Yoni Vortman

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  1. Yuval Werber
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  2. Eviatar Natan
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  3. Yizhar Lavner
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  4. Yoni Vortman
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Correspondence to Yuval Werber.

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Conflict of interest

This study was funded by KKL-JNF, Israel. All authors declare no conflict of interest. All the protocols mentioned above, including capture, handling, and antibiotic treatment were performed under necessary permits from Israel’s nature and park authority. Permit number for 2018: 41885, and for 2017: 41589.

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Werber, Y., Natan, E., Lavner, Y. et al. Antibiotics affect migratory restlessness orientation. J Ethol 40, 175–180 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-022-00747-0

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