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Use of a light-dependent magnetic compass for y-axis orientation in European common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles

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Abstract

We provide evidence for the use of a magnetic compass for y-axis orientation (i.e., orientation along the shore-deep water axis) by tadpoles of the European common frog (Rana temporaria). Furthermore, our study provides evidence for a wavelength-dependent effect of light on magnetic compass orientation in amphibians. Tadpoles trained and then tested under full-spectrum light displayed magnetic compass orientation that coincided with the trained shore-deep water axes of their training tanks. Conversely, tadpoles trained under long-wavelength (≥500 nm) light and tested under full-spectrum light, and tadpoles trained under full-spectrum light and tested under long-wavelength (≥500 nm) light, exhibited a 90° shift in magnetic compass orientation relative to the trained y-axis direction. Our results are consistent with earlier studies showing that the observed 90° shift in the direction of magnetic compass orientation under long-wavelength (≥500 nm) light is due to a direct effect of light on the underlying magnetoreception mechanism. These findings also show that wavelength-dependent effects of light do not compromise the function of the magnetic compass under a wide range of natural lighting conditions, presumably due to a large asymmetry in the relatively sensitivity of antagonistic short- and long-wavelength inputs to the light-dependent magnetic compass.

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Acknowledgments

The Cantabria autonomous government (Dirección General de Montes y Conservación de la Naturaleza) granted the necessary permits for the study. We sincerely thank Marcos Diego-Gutiérrez for invaluable assistance during this study. Comments by Michael Painter improved the manuscript. J.P. was supported by a grant from the NSF (USA) IOS 07-48175. The experiments reported herein comply with the current laws of Spain. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Edificio de Farmacia 5ª planta, 37007, Salamanca, Spain

    Francisco J. Diego-Rasilla

  2. Gabinete de Iniciativas Socioculturales y de Formación S.L., Calle Nicaragua 7, 37003, Salamanca, Spain

    Rosa M. Luengo

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    John B. Phillips

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  1. Francisco J. Diego-Rasilla
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  2. Rosa M. Luengo
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Correspondence to Francisco J. Diego-Rasilla.

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Diego-Rasilla, F.J., Luengo, R.M. & Phillips, J.B. Use of a light-dependent magnetic compass for y-axis orientation in European common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles. J Comp Physiol A 199, 619–628 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-013-0811-0

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