Summary
When hoarding food under IR light, the golden hamster returns to its nest by path integration after an active outward journey, and it is capable of compensating the angular component of a passive outward journey independently of auditory, olfactory, tactile and geomagnetic cues. If, however, peripheral visual cues are available, they predominate over information which is gained during the active or passive outward journey. Further experiments show the limitations of homing by path integration, which is open to cumulative errors and therefore needs to be complemented by other categories of information.
Article PDF
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Literatur
Watson, J. B., Psychol. Rev. Monogr. suppl.8 (2) (1907).
Görner, R., Fortschr Zool.21 (1973) 20.
Mittelstaedt, H., and Mittelstaedt, M.-L., Fortschr. Zool.21 (1973) 46.
Mittelstaedt, H., Fortschr. Zool.28 (1983) 197.
Etienne, A. S., Experientia36 (1980) 1048.
Beritachvili (Beritov), I. S., Neuropsychologia1 (1963) 233
Potegal, M., in: Spatial Abilities, Development and Physiological Foundations, p. 361. Ed. M. Potegal. Academic Press, New York and London 1982.
Barlow, J. S., J. theor. Biol.6 (1964) 76.
Mayne, R., in: Handbook of Sensory Physiology, vol. 6 (2), p. 493. Ed. H. H. Kornhuber. Springer, Berlin 1974.
Vauclair, M., Gramoni, H., Meyer, J.-J., and Zinder, M., Biol. Behav.2 (1977) 353.
Batschelet, E., Statistical methods for the analysis of problems in animal orientation and certain biological rhythms. The American Institute of Biological Sciences, Washington D. C. 1965.
Mather, J. G., and Barker, R. R., Nature 291 (1981) 152.
Wiltschko, W., and Wiltschko, R., Science176 (1972) 62.
Bischof, N., in: Handbuch der Psychologie, vol. 1, p. 409. Ed. W. Metzger. Hofgrefe, Göttingen 1966.
Mittelstaedt, H., and Mittelstaedt, M.-L., in: Avian Navigation, p. 290. Eds F. Papi and H. G. Wallraff. Springer, Berlin 1982.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Acknowledgments. This research was supported by the ‘Fonds national suisse de la recherche scientique’, grants No. 3.349.0.74 and 3.753.0.80. We are very grateful to Dr J. Bovet, Dr W. Heiligenberg, Dr J. G. Mather and to an unknown referee for their critical comments and to Mr R. Schumacher for all his ingenious technical help.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Etienne, A.S., Teroni, E., Maurer, R. et al. Short-distance homing in a small mammal: the role of exteroceptive cues and path integration. Experientia 41, 122–125 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02005909
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02005909