A new study suggests that infrasound, which is sound at frequencies below the range of human hearing, may play an important role in how seabirds navigate. The study, published in the journal *Current Biology*, found that seabirds exposed to infrasound were able to orient themselves more accurately than those that were not.
The researchers believe that infrasound may help seabirds to navigate by providing them with information about the direction of the wind and waves. This information could be useful for seabirds that are flying long distances and need to stay on course.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of British Columbia. The researchers used a special speaker to broadcast infrasound at a frequency of 10 hertz. This frequency is below the range of human hearing, but it can be heard by some animals, including seabirds.
The researchers placed the speaker on a boat and then took it out to sea. They then played the infrasound for a group of seabirds that were flying in the area. The researchers found that the seabirds that were exposed to the infrasound were able to orient themselves more accurately than those that were not.
The researchers believe that this study has implications for understanding how seabirds navigate. They plan to conduct further research to confirm the role of infrasound in seabird navigation.
Infrasound
Infrasound is sound at frequencies below the range of human hearing. It is produced by a variety of sources, including earthquakes, volcanoes, and ocean waves. Infrasound can travel long distances through the Earth's atmosphere and ocean.
Some animals, such as elephants, whales, and dogs, can hear infrasound. Infrasound is also used by some military and commercial applications, such as submarines and sonar.
Seabird Navigation
Seabirds are able to navigate over long distances, often across vast oceans. Scientists have proposed several different mechanisms for how seabirds navigate, including:
* Magnetic orientation: Seabirds may have a built-in compass that allows them to sense the Earth's magnetic field.
* Sun and star compass: Seabirds may use the position of the sun and stars to determine their direction.
* Landmarks: Seabirds may use landmarks, such as islands and coastlines, to help them navigate.
* Wind and waves: Seabirds may use the direction of the wind and waves to help them stay on course.
The new study suggests that infrasound may be another mechanism that seabirds use to navigate. Infrasound may provide seabirds with information about the direction of the wind and waves, which could be useful for long-distance navigation.
