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Evidence that geomagnetic variations can be detected by lorenzinian ampullae

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Abstract

THERE have been several reports of electroreceptor responses in elasmobranchs to an electric field induced by various magnetic stimuli (including water flow in a geomagnetic field)1–6. The possibility was suggested that fish can detect telluric currents produced by geomagnetic variations7, but it was not investigated experimentally. Here we describe direct neuro-physiological evidence for such a phenomenon.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of USSR, Leningrad

    H. R. BROWN & O. B. ILYINSKY

  2. Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Academy of Sciences of USSR, Murmansk

    V. M. MURAVEJKO

  3. Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radiowave Propagation, Academy of Sciences of USSR, Moscow-Leningrad, USSR

    E. S. CORSHKOV & G. A. FONAREV

Authors
  1. H. R. BROWN
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  2. O. B. ILYINSKY
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  3. V. M. MURAVEJKO
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  4. E. S. CORSHKOV
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  5. G. A. FONAREV
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BROWN, H., ILYINSKY, O., MURAVEJKO, V. et al. Evidence that geomagnetic variations can be detected by lorenzinian ampullae. Nature 277, 648–649 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/277648a0

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