Animal Navigation
Henrik Mouritsen´s pages
My scientific Curriculum Vitae
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Personal data: |
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Work:
2007-: Full Professor (W3) and Lichtenberg-Professur (VW-Stiftung) at University of Oldenburg, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Germany.
2006-2007: W2 Lichtenberg-Professur (VW-Stiftung) at University of Oldenburg, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Germany.
2002-2006: Leader of my own Nachwuchsgruppe "Animal Navigation" financed by the VolkswagenStiftung
1999-2001: Visiting scientist at Department of Psychology, Queen´s University, Canada.
1998: Research assistant at Centre for Sound Communication at Odense University Sept-Dec financed by the Danish National Research Foundation.
Education:
2005: Habilitation: "Orientation cues and strategies used by long-distance migrants"
1998: Awarded a Ph.D. on "Compasses and orientational strategies of night migrating passerines"
1996: Master of science (Cand. Scient.) in Biology and Chemistry from Odense University.
1994: Given a four years Ph.D. grant from Odense University.
1990: Matriculated Odense University.
1990: Graduated from Støvring Gymnasium (mathematical-chemical high-school).
Papers:
| 2012: |
Engels, S., Hein, C.M., Lefeldt, N., Prior, H. & Mouritsen, H. (2012) Night-Migratory Songbirds Possess a Magnetic Compass in Both Eyes. PLoS ONE , 7, e43271. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043271. |
| 2012: |
Kishkinev, D., Mouritsen, H & Mora, C.V. (2012) An attempt to develop an operant conditioning paradigm to test for magnetic discrimination behaviour in a migratory songbird. J. Ornithology 153, 1165-1177. DOI: 10.1007/s10336-012-0847-x. |
| 2012: |
Mouritsen, H. (2012) Sensory biology: search for the compass needles. Nature 484, 320-321 (News and Views). DOI:10.1038/484320a |
| 2012: |
Mouritsen, H. & Hore, P. J. (2012) The magnetic retina: light-dependent and trigeminal magnetoreception in migratory birds. Current Opinion in Neurobiology 22, 343-352. DOI:10.1016/j.conb.2012.01.005 |
| 2011: |
Guilford, T., Åkesson, S., Gagliardo, A., Holland, R.A., Mouritsen, H., Muheim, R., Wiltschko, R., Wiltschko, W. & Bingman, V.P. (2011) Migratory navigation in birds: new opportunities in an era of fast-developing tracking technology. J. Exp. Biol. 214, 3705-3712. DOI:10.1242/jeb.051292 |
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2011: |
Hein, C. M., Engels, S., Kishkinev, D. & Mouritsen, H. "Robins have a magnetic compass in both eyes". Nature 471, E11. Insert Link |
| 2011:
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Hein, C. M., Zapka, M. & Mouritsen, H. "Weather significantly influences the migratory behaviour of night-migratory songbirds tested indoors in orientation cages". Journal of Ornithology 152, 27-35. Insert Link |
| 2010:
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Kishkinev, D., Chernetsov, N. & Mouritsen, H. "A double clock or jetlag mechanism is unlikely to be involved in detection of east-west displacements in a long-distance avian migrant". Auk 127, 773−780. Link |
| 2010:
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Zapka M., Heyers D., Liedvogel M., Jarvis ED., Mouritsen H. "Night-time neuronal activation of Cluster N in a day- and night-migrating songbird". European Journal of Neuroscience 32, 619-624. Link |
| 2010:
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Solov’yov, I. A. Mouritsen, H. & Schulten, K. "Acuity of a cryptochrome and vision based magnetoreception system in birds". Biophysical Journal 99, 40-49. |
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2010: |
Heyers D., Zapka M., Hoffmeister M., Wild JM., Mouritsen H. "Magnetic field changes activate the trigeminal brainstem complex in a migratory bird". Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences USA (PNAS) 107:9394-9399. Link |
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2010: |
Gerald Falkenberg, Gerta Fleissner, Kirsten Schuchardt, Markus Kuehbacher, Peter Thalau, Henrik Mouritsen, Dominik Heyers, Gerd Wellenreuther, Guenther Fleissner "Avian Magnetoreception: Elaborate Iron Mineral Containing Dendrites in the Upper Beak Seem to Be a Common Feature of Birds". PLoS ONE 5(2), e9231. Link |
| 2010: | Ritz T., Ahmad M., Mouritsen H., Wiltschko R. & Wiltschko W. "Photoreceptor-based magnetoreception: Optimal design of receptor molecules, cells, and neuronal processing". J. Royal. Soc. Interface 7, S135-146. Link |
| 2010: | Liedvogel M. & Mouritsen, H. "Cryptochromes – a potential magnetoreceptor: what do we know and what do we want to know?", J. Royal. Soc. Interface 7, S147-62. Link |
| 2010: | Hein, C. M., Zapka, M., Heyers, D., Kutzschbauch, S., Schneider, N.-L. & Mouritsen, H. "Night-migratory garden warblers can orient with their magnetic compass using the left, the right, or both eyes", J. Royal. Soc. Interface 7, S227-33. Link |
| 2009: | Zapka, M., Heyers, D., Hein, C. M., Engels, S., Schneider, N.-L., Hans, J., Weiler, S., Dreyer, D., Kishkinev, D., Wild, J. M. & Mouritsen, H. "Visual but not trigeminal mediation of magnetic compass information in a migratory bird", Nature 461, 1274-1277. Link |
| 2009: | Mouritsen, H., Feenders, G., Hegemann, A. & Liedvogel, M. "Thermal paper can replace typewriter correction paper in Emlen funnels", J. Ornithol. 150, 713-715. Link |
| 2008: | Chapman, J.W., Reynolds, D.R., Mouritsen, H., Hill, J.H., Riley, J.R., Sivell, D., Smith, A.D. & Woiwod, I.P. "Wind Selection and Drift Compensation Optimise Migratory Pathways in a High-flying Moth", Current Biology, 18: 514-518. Link |
| 2008: | Feenders, G., Liedvogel, M., Rivas, M., Zapka, M., Horita, H., Hara, E., Wada, K., Mouritsen, H. & Jarvis, E.D. "Molecular Mapping of Movement-Associated Areas in the Avian Brain: A Motor Theory for Vocal Learning Origin." PLoS ONE, 3(3): e1768. Link |
| 2008: | Heyers D., Manns M., Luksch H., Güntürkün O., Mouritsen H. "Calcium-binding proteins label functional streams of the visual system in a songbird", Brain Research Bulletin 75, 348-55. Link |
| 2008: | Chernetsov N., Kishkinev D., & Mouritsen, H."A long-distance avian migrant compensates for longitudinal displacement during spring migration.", Current Biology 18, 1888-190. (PUBMED) |
| 2007: | Liedvogel M., Maeda K., Henbest K., Schleicher E., Simon T., Timmel C.R., Hore P.J. & Mouritsen, H."Chemical Magnetoreception: Bird Cryptochrome 1a Is Excited by Blue Light and Forms Long-Lived Radical-Pairs.", PLoS ONE 2(10): e1106 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001106. (Full Article) |
| 2007: | Heyers D., Manns M., Luksch H., Güntürkün O., Mouritsen H. "MA visual pathway links brain structures active during magnetic compass orientation in migratory birds", PLoS ONE 2(9): e937. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000937. (Full Article) This paper was reported in over 200 major news media (internet, radio, newspapers, search engines) around the world including Nature News, National Geographic, BBC, Reuters, Yahoo, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Spiegel etc. |
| 2007: | Heyers D., Manns M., Luksch H., Güntürkün O., Mouritsen H. "Calcium-binding proteins label functional streams of the visual system in a songbird", Brain Research Bulletin, 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2007.10.029. (PUBMED)
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| 2007: | Liedvogel, M., Feenders, G., Wada, K., Troje, N.F., Jarvis, E. D. & Mouritsen, H. "Lateralised activation of Cluster N in the brains of migratory songbirds". European Journal of Neuroscience 25, 1166-1173. (PUBMED) |
| 2006: | Frost, B.J. & Mouritsen, H. "The neural mechanisms of long distance animal navigation". Current Opinion in Neurobiology 16, 481-488. (PUBMED)
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| 2006: | Stalleicken, J., Labhart, T., & Mouritsen, H. "Physiological characterization of the compound eye in monarch butterflies with focus on the dorsal rim area". Journal of Comparative Physiology A 192, 321-331. (PUBMED)
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| 2005: | Piersma, T., Pérez-Tris, J., Mouritsen, H., Bauchinger, U. & Bairlein, F. "Is there a ‘migratory syndrome’ common to all migrant birds?", Annals of the New York Academy of the Sciences, 1046, 282-394.
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| 2005: | Mouritsen, H. & Ritz, T. "Magnetoreception and it use in bird navigation", Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 15, 406-414. (review)
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| 2005: | Mouritsen, H., Feenders, G., Liedvogel, M., Wada, K. & Jarvis, E. D. "A Night Vision Brain Area in Migratory Songbirds", PNAS 102, 8339-8344. (Link to article) |
| 2005: | Stalleicken, J., Mukhida, M., Labhart, T., Wehner, R., Frost, B. J. & Mouritsen, H. "Do Monarch butterflies use polarized skylight for oriention?", Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 2399-2408.
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| 2004: | Mouritsen, H., Feenders, G., Liedvogel, M. & Kropp, W. "Migratory birds use head scans to detect the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field ". Current Biology 14, 1946-1949.
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| 2004: | Mouritsen, H., Janssen-Bienhold, U., Liedvogel, M., Feenders, G., Stalleicken, J., Dirks, P. & Weiler, R. "Cryptochromes and activity markers co-localize in bird retina during magnetic Orientation". PNAS 101, 14294-14299. (Link to article) [See also Science 306, 432-434 and Nature Review Neuroscience 5, 827]. This paper also reached the general public through the popular press (reported on in over 200 major news media around the world). |
| 2004: | Cochran, B., Mouritsen, H. & Wikelski, M. "Migrating Songbirds Recalibrate their Magnetic Compass Daily from Twilight Cues." Science 304, 405-408. News item: Science 304: 373 as pdf-file This paper was written up in over 200 major news media (TV, radio and newspapers) around the world including CNN, BBC, NBC, CBC, National Geographic, Die Welt, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Daily Telegraph and Washington Post. Paper as pdf-file |
| 2003: | Mouritsen, H., Huyvaert, K.P., Frost, B.J. & Andersson, D.J. Wawed Albatrosses can navigate with strong magnets attached to their head." Journal of Experimental Biology, 206, 4155-4166.
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| 2003: | Andersson, D.J., Huyvaert, K.P., Wood, D.R., Gillikin, C.L., Frost, B.J. & Mouritsen, H. "At-sea movements of Waved Albatrosses and the Galapagos Marine Reserve." Biological Conservation, 110, 367-373. |
| 2003: | Mouritsen, H. "Spatiotemporal orientation strategies of long-distance migrants". In: Avian Migration (Eds: Berthold, Gwinner & Sonnenschein), Springer Verlag: Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 493-513. (review) |
| 2002: | Mouritsen, H. & Frost, B.J. "Virtual migration in tethered flying monarch butterflies reveals orientation mechanisms." PNAS 99, 10162-10166.
This paper was written up in Science´s news section, in New Scientist, and in many major news media around the world including CNN, CBC, Reuther´s, Ritzau, The Independent, Bild der Wissenschaft and Washington Post. |
| 2001: | Mouritsen, H. & Larsen, O.N. ´Migrating songbirds tested in computer controlled Emlen funnels use stellar cues for a time-independent compass´ Journal of Experimental Biology 204, 3855-3865.
This paper was featured in "The best of Journal of Experimental Biology" and written up in New Scientist. It also reached several major news media around the world including BBC and The Independent. |
| 2000: | Mouritsen, H. "Navigation in birds and other animals". Journal of Image and Vision Computing 19: 713-731. (review) |
| 2000: | Mouritsen, H. ´Yes, the clock-and-compass strategy can explain the distribution of ringing recoveries - reply to Thorup et al.´ Animal Behaviour 60, F9-F14. |
| 2000: | Mouritsen, H. ´Ringing recoveries contain hidden information about orientation mechanisms.´ Ardea 89: 31-42.
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| 2000: | Mouritsen, H. & Mouritsen, O. "A mathematical expectation model for bird navigation based on the clock-and-compass strategy". Journal of Theoretical Biology 60, 283-291..
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| 1998: | Mouritsen, H. ‘How do young night migrating passerines use their compasses for orientation during migration?’. Proceedings of the 22nd International Ornithological Congress pp. 934-955. (review) |
| 1998: | Mouritsen, H. & Larsen, O.N. ‘Migrating young Pied Flycatchers do not compensate for geographical displacements’. Journal of Experimental Biology 201, 2927-2934.
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| 1998: | Mouritsen, H. ‘Modelling migration: the clock-and-compass model can explain the distribution of ringing recoveries’. Animal Behaviour 56, 899-907.
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| 1998: | Mouritsen, H. ‘Redstarts, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, can orient in a true-zero magnetic field’. Animal Behaviour 55, 1311-1324. |
Early research achievements:
1986-1989: Draw up the report: ‘The Birdlife of Gravlev Ådal’ The work won me the first price of 20,000 dkr in Jyllandsposten’s research competition for young scientists and inventors.
1992: Participation in a scientific expedition to the rain forests of the Sierra Madre Mountains of Luzon, The Philippines (five month). The expedition was supported by Birdlife International and the World Bank. The aim of the expedition was to pinpoint the most important rainforest areas for conservation of biodiversity in the Phillipines.
1993-1994: Draw up the report: ‘The effect of daily activity changes on population density estimates of rain forest birds derived from transect counts.’ on basis of the results from the above mentioned expedition. The work won me the first price of 15,000 dkr in Jyllandsposten’s research competition for young scientists and inventors and a first price of 5,000 ECU in the 5th EU Competition for Young Scientists. Also I won a travel award as EU’s official representative at the 45th International Science and Engineering Fair in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Media publicity related to my previous research achievements
8 minutes live interview on BBC World TV 19:00 News and feature on CBC countrywide news.
My PNAS paper was featured in Science´s News section.
Article about my paper in JEB 2001 was written up in the "New Scientist" 9 Feb 2002 issue and another article about my PNAS 2002 paper appeared in the 13 July 2002 issue.
5 minutes live interview on the news on an American television station.
20 minutes programme about my research on local Danish television: TV Nord.
Short news spots on CNN, CBC (Canadian TV), national Danish television, both DR´s "TV-avisen", TV2´s "Nyhederne".
5 minutes radio interview on BBC World Service in their science news section.
Full page articles in current science sections of the "The Independent", "Washington Post" and three major Danish newspapers: "Politiken", "Jyllandsposten" and "Berlingske Tidende".
Several 1-2 page articles in "Ingenøren" and "Jyllandsposten" special issues on research by young scientists.
Smaller news articles in "Der Spiegel", "Berliner Zeitung", "The Independent", "The New York Times" and many others.
Several radio interviews on local and national Danish and German radio and on BBC Scotland.
Referee services for many journals including for instance
Science.
PNAS.
Current Biology.
Royal Society London.
Biophysical Journal.
Journal of Experimental Biology.
Animal Behaviour.
Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology.
Journal for Ornithology.
Journal of Avian Biology.
Other qualifications:
Active field ornithologist over the last 15 years and holder of banding license (have banded approximately 6,000 birds).
Master programming in TurboPascal.
Very large travel experience.
Work as safari guide in Kenya and Tanzania.
Nature photographer.
henrik.mouritsen@uni-oldenburg.de
Copyright © 1996-2003 Henrik Mouritsen
Revised 24 September 2002