Data from: Geomagnetic field influences upward movement of young Chinook salmon emerging from nests

Organisms use a variety of environmental cues to orient their movements in three-dimensional space. Here, we show that the upward movement of young Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) emerging from gravel nests is influenced by the geomagnetic field. Fish in the ambient geomagnetic field travelled farther upwards through substrate than did fish tested in a field with the vertical component inverted. This suggests that the magnetic field is one of several factors that influences emergence from the gravel, possibly by serving as an orientation cue that helps fish determine which way is up. Moreover, our work indicates that the Oncorhynchus species are sensitive to the magnetic field throughout their life cycle, and that it guides their movements across a range of spatial scales and habitats.

生物体借助多种环境线索，在三维空间中调整自身运动方向。本研究发现，从砂砾巢中孵化而出的幼年奇努克鲑鱼（Oncorhynchus tshawytscha）的向上运动，会受到地磁场（geomagnetic field）的影响。相较于在垂直分量反转的磁场环境中接受测试的个体，处于自然环境地磁场中的鲑鱼能够在基质中向上移动更远的距离。这表明地磁场是影响其从砂砾中钻出的多重因素之一，可能通过作为定向线索帮助鱼类判断上方方向。此外，本研究证实大麻哈鱼属（Oncorhynchus）物种在整个生命周期中均对地磁场具有敏感性，且地磁场可在多种空间尺度与不同生境中引导其运动行为。