Peering inside the BRAIN of a 君主 バタフライ 明らかにする／漏らすs how an '内部の compass' helps it make epic 移住s

  • 君主s migrate thousands of miles each year from the US to Mexico
  • But the 機械装置 of how they find their way has been 貧しく understood
  • New 熟考する／考慮する shows input from the insect's 注目する，もくろむs, antennae and 団体／死体 clock
  • This feedback helps them to adjust based on time of day and keep 長，率いるing in a?south-westerly direction on their 移住する 大勝するs??

By Ryan O'Hare for MailOnline and South West News Service

Published: | Updated:

A 脅すd 種類 of バタフライ could be saved after scientists 割れ目d the neurological secrets of how it finds its way.

研究員s believe they have discovered how the バタフライs use an '内部の compass' to 決定する their south-west flight when they migrate each autumn.

正確に／まさに how the バタフライ's brain 過程s （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） about its 場所 and where they should 飛行機で行く has been 貧しく understood, but now it is hoped this 発見 will help scientists understand how the insects navigate and 位置を示す their food.

A new study has tapped into the brains of monarch butterflies (pictured) to reveal how they navigate during their annual migrations. US researchers found that the animals use their internal compass to determine their south-west flight when they migrate from the north-eastern US to Mexico each autumn

A new 熟考する／考慮する has tappe d into the brains of 君主 バタフライs (pictured) to 明らかにする／漏らす how they navigate during their 年次の 移住s. US 研究員s 設立する that the animals use their 内部の compass to 決定する their south-west flight when they migrate from the north-eastern US to Mexico each autumn

Each autumn 君主 バタフライs 長，率いる south from their North American habitats and migrate over 2,000 miles (3,220km) to the warmer wintering grounds of central Mexico.

にもかかわらず dwindling numbers 予定 to loss of milkweed - their 単独の food source - this innate knowledge is still passed on to each 世代 as the insects （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 their orange, 黒人／ボイコット and white wings on their epic 旅行 south.

In the 最新の 熟考する／考慮する, 研究員s 無d in on the insect's brains to show 正確に／まさに how the 君主's navigate, using their '内部の compass'.

By 手段ing the activity of the animals' brain 独房s, and 監視するing the 率s at which 独房s in their antennae and 注目する，もくろむs 解雇する／砲火／射撃d, they were able to model how the insects stay on 跡をつける.?

Each autumn monarch butterflies head south from their North American habitats and migrate over 2,000 miles to the warmer wintering grounds of central Mexico (pictured). But exactly how the butterfly's brain processes information about its location and where they should fly was poorly understood until now

Each autumn 君主 バタフライs 長，率いる south from their North American habitats and migrate over 2,000 miles to the warmer wintering grounds of central Mexico (pictured). But 正確に／まさに how the バタフライ's brain 過程s （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） about its 場所 and where they should 飛行機で行く was 貧しく understood until now

HOW THE MONARCH FINDS ITS WAY?

研究員s in the US believe they have discovered how 君主 バタフライs use their '内部の compass' to 決定する their south-west flight when they migrate each autumn.

君主s use their large, 構内／化合物 注目する，もくろむs to 跡をつける the sun's position in the sky, 連合させるing the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） with the time of day to know where to go.?

This （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） is 連合させるd with their 内部の 団体／死体 clocks, based on the rhythmic 表現 of 重要な 遺伝子s which 持続する a daily pattern of physiological 過程s and behaviour - centred in their antennae.

By 手段ing the activity of the animals' brain 独房s, and 監視するing the 率s at which 独房s in their antennae and 注目する，もくろむs 解雇する／砲火／射撃d, they were able to model how the insects stay on 跡をつける.?

The バタフライs have a unique 分離 point - which 支配（する）／統制するs whether the 君主 turns 権利 or left to 長，率いる in the south-west direction - which changes 場所 in their visual field throughout the day.

'Their compass 統合するs two pieces of （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） - the time of day and the sun's position on the horizon ? to find the southerly direction,' explained Dr Eli Shlizermanof, a mathematician at the University of Washington in the US and lead author of the 熟考する／考慮する.

'We 手配中の，お尋ね者 to understand how the 君主 is 過程ing these different types of （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） to 産する／生じる this constant behaviour, 飛行機で行くing south-west each autumn.'

君主s use their large, 構内／化合物 注目する，もくろむs to 跡をつける the sun's position in the sky, 連合させるing the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） with the time of day to know where to go.

The clever insects also tap into their 内部の 団体／死体 clocks, based on the rhythmic 表現 of 重要な 遺伝子s that 持続する a daily pattern of physiological 過程s and behaviour.

Most animals have a 献身的な area of the brain to 規制する their 内部の clock, but in the 君主 バタフライ the clock is centred in the antennae.

'We created a model that 会社にする／組み込むd this （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） - how the antennae and 注目する，もくろむs send this （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） to the brain,' said Dr Shlizerman.

'Our goal was to model what type of 支配（する）／統制する 機械装置 would be at work within the brain, and then asked whether our model could 保証（人） 支えるd 航海 in the south-west direction.'

Scientists think the monarchs use their large, compound eyes to track the sun’s position in the sky, combining the information with the time of day - as judged by their body clocks - to know where to go. Combining this information provides an updated internal compass so the animals know when to adjust. Stock image

Scientists think the 君主s use their large, 構内／化合物 注目する，もくろむs to 跡をつける the sun's position in the sky, 連合させるing the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） with the time of day - as judg ed by their 団体／死体 clocks - to know where to go. 連合させるing this （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） 供給するs an updated 内部の compass so the animals know when to adjust. 在庫／株 image

Based on their model, it also appears that during course 是正s 君主s do not 簡単に make the shortest turn to get 支援する on 大勝する.

Their model 含むs a unique feature - a 分離 point that would 支配（する）／統制する whether the 君主 turned 権利 or left to 長，率いる in the south-west direction.

Dr Shlizerman 追加するd: 'The 場所 of this point in the 君主 バタフライ's visual field changes throughout the day.

'And our model 予報するs that the 君主 will not cross this point when it makes a course 是正 to 長，率いる 支援する south-west.

'In 実験s with 君主s at different times of the day, you do see occasions where their turns in course 是正s are 異常に long, slow or meandering.

Monarch numbers have been threatened in recent years, mainly due to loss of their food source, milkweed, due to herbicide use. Pictured is a north American monarch butterfly feeding on milkweed flowers

君主 numbers have been 脅すd in 最近の years, おもに 予定 to loss of their food source, milkweed, 予定 to 除草剤 use. Pictured is a north American 君主 バタフライ feeding on milkweed flowers

'These could be 事例／患者s where they can't do a shorter turn because it would 要求する crossing the 分離 point.

'And when that happens, their compass points north-east instead of south-west. It's a simple, 強健な system to explain how these バタフライs make this remarkable 移住, 世代 after 世代.'??

The findings are published today in the 定期刊行物 独房 報告（する）／憶測s.?

Steven Reppert, a neuroscientist at the University of Massachusetts and 上級の author of the 熟考する／考慮する, 追加するd: 'The biggest thing we need to do now is define, in 生物学の 条件, what the model 述べるs.?

'We can use its parameters to help us dissect the circuitry 伴う／関わるd in 君主 航海.'

EPIC MIGRATION: MONARCHS HEAD SOUTH IN THEIR MILLIONS

A monarch butterfly feeds on milkweed flowers, stocking up on the energy needed to fuel its migration

A 君主 バタフライ 料金d on milkweed flowers, 在庫／株ing up on the energy needed to 燃料 its 移住

Each autumn 君主 バタフライs take to the skies in their millions to make the 旅行 from the north-eastern 部隊s 明言する／公表するs to central Mexico.

君主 numbers have been 脅すd in 最近の years, おもに 予定 to loss of their food source, milkweed, 予定 to 除草剤 use.

From September and October the insects ぱたぱたする the 普通の／平均（する） 2,000-mile distance to their overwintering 場所／位置s in Mexico, where they roost from trees in 抱擁する numbers.

They make the return 旅行 in March, during which time the 女性（の）s will lay their eggs.?

Earlier this year, 記録，記録的な／記録する numbers were 記録，記録的な／記録するd in Mexico wintering 場所／位置s, but this success was somewhat 反対するd with freak snowstorms in parts of Mexi co 原因（となる）ing large number to die off.

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