Objectively identifying landmark use and predicting flight trajectories of the homing pigeon using Gaussian processes.

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
Richard MannStephen Roberts

Abstract

Pigeons home along idiosyncratic habitual routes from familiar locations. It has been suggested that memorized visual landmarks underpin this route learning. However, the inability to experimentally alter the landscape on large scales has hindered the discovery of the particular features to which birds attend. Here, we present a method for objectively classifying the most informative regions of animal paths. We apply this method to flight trajectories from homing pigeons to identify probable locations of salient visual landmarks. We construct and apply a Gaussian process model of flight trajectory generation for pigeons trained to home from specific release sites. The model shows increasing predictive power as the birds become familiar with the sites, mirroring the animal's learning process. We subsequently find that the most informative elements of the flight trajectories coincide with landscape features that have previously been suggested as important components of the homing task.

References

Aug 10, 2000·Die Naturwissenschaften·K von HünerbeinW Wiltschko
May 3, 2003·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Richard A Holland
Jul 23, 2004·Current Biology : CB·Hans-Peter LippGiacomo Dell'Omo
Dec 2, 2004·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Dora BiroTim Guilford
May 7, 2005·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Jessica MeadeTim Guilford
Sep 1, 2005·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Kam-Keung LauTim Guilford
Apr 25, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Dora BiroTim Guilford

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 23, 2012·Interface Focus·David J T SumpterAndrea Perna
Apr 6, 2012·PLoS Computational Biology·Graciano Dieck KattasMichael Small
Jan 24, 2014·Biology Letters·Richard P MannTim Guilford
Apr 11, 2014·Biology Letters·Andrea FlackDora Biro
Sep 29, 2011·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Ingo SchiffnerRoswitha Wiltschko
Aug 13, 2013·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Sachit ButailMaurizio Porfiri
Nov 13, 2014·PloS One·Ingo Schiffner, Roswitha Wiltschko
Oct 28, 2019·Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences·Björn R H BlomqvistRichard P Mann
Jan 17, 2014·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Tim Guilford, Dora Biro
May 22, 2021·Royal Society Open Science·Baptiste GardeEmily L C Shepard
Nov 13, 2019··Natasja van de L'IsleAndré Nusser

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Matlab

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Jessica MeadeTim Guilford
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Dora BiroTim Guilford
Journal of Theoretical Biology
Ingo SchiffnerRoswitha Wiltschko
Journal of Theoretical Biology
Kam-Keung LauTim Guilford
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved