Skylight Polarization Patterns as Cues for Honey Bee Orientation; Physical Measurements and Behavioral Experiments
type: CreativeWork
description: This thesis reports the results of behavioral, theoretical, and physical studies of the use of solar and skylight cues by animals for orientation. The principal features of skylight radiation which may be important for orientation are reviewed, together with previous investigations of honey bee polarization sensitivity. The dynamic properties of skylight polarization are shown to be potentially useful for animal navigation. Because the polarization patterns rotate around the celestial poles they could be used to locate the pole point where the earth's axis of rotation intersects the celestial sphere. Observation of the pole point could provide an animal with information about the latitude, cardinal directions, local apparent time, and the solar declination. The behavioral experiments reported here constitute the initial steps in evaluating the possibility that animals can use these temporal aspects for navigation.
abstract: This thesis reports the results of behavioral, theoretical, and physical studies of the use of solar and skylight cues by animals for orientation. The principal features of skylight radiation which may be important for orientation are reviewed, together with previous investigations of honey bee polarization sensitivity. The dynamic properties of skylight polarization are shown to be potentially useful for animal navigation. Because the polarization patterns rotate around the celestial poles they could be used to locate the pole point where the earth's axis of rotation intersects the celestial sphere. Observation of the pole point could provide an animal with information about the latitude, cardinal directions, local apparent time, and the solar declination. The behavioral experiments reported here constitute the initial steps in evaluating the possibility that animals can use these temporal aspects for navigation.
author: Brines, Michael Leo
keywords: animal orientation, skylight polarization, celestial navigation, honey bees, solar cues, behavioral experiments, Life Sciences
date published: 1978-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:11:21Z
provider: Rockefeller
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Rockefeller