https://www.unc.edu/posts/2025/02/12/dancing-turtles-unlock-scientific-discovery/ fbpxSkip to Main Content The University of North Carolina logo with a detail of the Old Well. Top Level Navigation * Discover * Navigate + Navigate + About the UniversityDisplay Sub Menu for About the University o About the University o Alumni o By the numbers o Branding and Identity GuidelinesOpens in new site o Carolina NextOpens in new site o For the MediaOpens in new site o Frequently Asked Questions o History and Traditions o Leadership o Mission & Values o Support the University o UNC Social Media o UNC SystemOpens in new site + Admissions and Aid + AcademicsDisplay Sub Menu for Academics o Academics o Academic Calendar and Registrar o Academic Enhancements o Academic Departments o Digital and Lifelong Learning o Continuing Education OpportunitiesOpens in new site o Libraries o Programs and Curricula + Accessibility + Arts and Culture + AthleticsDisplay Sub Menu for Athletics o Athletics o GoHeels.comOpens in new site o Campus RecreationOpens in new site o IntramuralsOpens in new site o Sports ClubsOpens in new site + Come Visit Us + Diversity and Inclusion + GlobalOpens in new site + Innovation and Economic Development + Life at CarolinaDisplay Sub Menu for Life at Carolina o Life at Carolina o About the Town o Campus Recreation o Carolina Housing o Carolina UnionOpens in new site o Community and Public Service o Health & Wellness + News and UpdatesOpens in new siteDisplay Sub Menu for News and Updates o News and Updates o Academics o Around Campus o Arts & Humanities o Athletics o Events Calendar o Global o Health & Medicine o Innovation & Entrepreneurship o University News o Research + Research + SchoolsDisplay Sub Menu for Schools o Schools o College of Arts and Sciences o Adams School of Dentistry o Data Science and Society o Education o Eshelman School of Pharmacy o Gillings School of Global Public Health o School of Government o The Graduate School o Hussman School of Journalism and Media o Information & Library Science o Law o Kenan-Flagler Business School o Medicine o Nursing o Social Work o Summer School + UNC HealthOpens in new site + University DevelopmentOpens in new site + Working at CarolinaOpens in new site * Search The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hide Main Navigation Menu Featured * [Research_HERO-250x141] The true costs of conducting research * [RuralBlurbCollage2_v2-250x141] UNC Rural responds to post-Helene needs News and Updates * Academics * Around Campus * Arts & Humanities * Athletics * Events Calendar * Global * Health & Medicine * Innovation & Entrepreneurship * University News * Research * Search * PeopleOpens in new window * PlacesOpens in new window Search UNC.edu[ ] [Search] Research Dancing turtles unlock scientific discovery Carolina researchers publish a groundbreaking study on how turtles navigate using the Earth's magnetic field. By Michael Lananna, University Communications, Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 Close-up image of a small sea turtle on sand. Sea turtles dance moves aren't just cute -- they can also lead to significant research findings. (Ken Lohmann/biology department) * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share on Pinterest * Share via Email * Print Friendly When captive loggerhead sea turtles anticipate food, they do a little dance. The turtles raise their heads out of water, open their mouths, flap their flippers and spin in circles. Not only is this "turtle dancing behavior" cute, it was also the key to unlocking a significant scientific discovery by researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill. The prestigious international science journal Nature published the study Feb. 12. Kayla Goforth, a recent doctoral graduate in the College of Arts and Sciences' biology department, is the lead author of "Learned magnetic map cues and two mechanisms of magnetoreception in turtles." Early on in her graduate studies at Carolina, Goforth was fascinated by sea turtles returning to the same feeding sites again and again throughout their lifetimes -- despite traveling up to 10,000 miles across the planet. She hypothesized that these turtles used Earth's magnetic field to memorize specific geographic areas that they associated with food, and she devised an experiment in the biology department's Lohmann Lab -- run by husband-and-wife duo Kenneth and Catherine Lohmann. "Kayla began to wonder if we could get the turtles to associate the magnetic signature of a geographic area with food -- and therefore act out this turtle dance behavior," said Kenneth Lohmann, the Charles P. Postelle Jr. Distinguished Professor of Biology. "She really took the lead in this. I wasn't at all sure in the beginning whether it would work, but we were happy to have her try, and it turned out remarkably well." Short, soundless video of a small sea turtle flapping around in water. The team of Carolina researchers analyzed how sea turtles use Earth's magnetic field to guide their long-distance migrations across the ocean, and how the turtles sense magnetic fields. Goforth and the rest of the all-Carolina team conditioned loggerhead turtles to magnetic fields replicating those that exist in various oceanic locations, repeatedly feeding the turtles in some magnetic fields while not feeding them in others. When later exposed to the fields in which they were fed, the turtles exhibited "turtle dancing behavior," indicating that they associated that specific magnetic signature with food. "That's how we figured out what to measure, just by watching them do this as we were feeding them in the lab," said Goforth, who is now conducting postdoctoral research at Texas A&M University. "When they get really excited, they stick their heads out; they slap their flippers wildly; they spin in place sometimes." The assay suggests that loggerhead sea turtles can learn the magnetic signatures of geographical areas -- much like dropping a pin in a GPS app. Aerial image of many sea turtles on a beach. The groundbreaking study was published in the prestigious international science journal Nature. (Ken Lohmann/biology department) When turtles use magnetic signatures, they are using their magnetic map sense, but they also have a magnetic compass sense that enables them to move north, south or some other direction. The research further showed that the map and compass senses detect magnetic fields in different ways. Working in collaboration with the College's physics and astronomy department, the team investigated the effects of radiofrequency oscillating magnetic fields on the turtles' magnetic senses. What the team found surprised them. The oscillating magnetic fields had no impact on the turtles' magnetic map ability but did disrupt the turtles' ability to use the magnetic compass and orient themselves. "It suggested there are two different mechanisms for the magnetic map and compass," Goforth said. "And they might have evolved separately." Exactly how turtles and other migratory species use these senses is a question that has baffled scientists for more than 50 years, and it's one that Goforth continues to research at Texas A&M, now studying monarch butterflies instead of sea turtles. "The big question is always the mechanism," Goforth said. "What's the mechanism and what is the sensor? We know that for the visual sense, you have eyes; for the sense of smell, you have a nose; and for hearing, you have ears. But no receptor like that has been identified for the magnetic sense, and the mechanism remains unknown." Hand holding a tiny sea turtle. (Ken Lohmann/biology department) Categories College of Arts and Sciences, Research Keep Reading Carolina and NC State rename Joint BME department You May Also Like... * + Old Well and South Building on a snowy morning. The true costs of conducting research Penny-Gordon Larsen, vice chancellor for research, writes about the proposed cap on federal research funding. + Carolina blue graduation cords over an NC State graduation cap Carolina and NC State rename Joint BME department Ross W. Lampe Jr.'s $20 million investment will transform the Lampe Joint Biomedical Engineering department. + Ronit Freeman poses up against art on a glass wall in her lab. This scientist builds living machines Ronit Freeman uses nature's building blocks to create innovative technologies to detect and fight disease. + Two UNC-Chapel Hill graduate students who are engaged to each other, Angelos Angelopoulos and Jade Kandel, sit and hold hands in a laboratory with computer screens seen behind them. Algorithms bring couple together Two Carolina graduate students share a passion for computer science and love for each other. + Adrienne Bonar posing next to MRI machine. Emotion detective tracks effects of stress Doctoral candidate Adrienne Bonar studies the many factors that shape people's feelings. + Headshot of Sarah Brown in front of forest backdrop. Bridge Beyond Carolina funds professional opportunities The internship allowed doctoral candidate Sarah Brown to do real-world criminology research at RTI International. * + Map of western North Carolina counties Nursing's ViVE center deployed data for disaster response Following Hurricane Helene, professor Saif Khairat's team created a map to pinpoint who needed help and where. * + An artistic interpretation of a new planet, next to a headshot of Madyson Barber Graduate student discovers youngest transiting planet ever Identified by Carolina astronomer Madyson Barber, the "baby" planet is 3 million years old and roughly the size of Jupiter. * The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill logo * + Accessibility + Alert Carolina + Alumni + ConnectCarolina + Campus Map + Contact Us + Careers + Departments A - Z + Ethics and Policy + For the Media + Libraries + People Directory + Privacy Statement + UNC Student Stores + The Well * + Facebook + Twitter + YouTube + Instagram + Pinterest * (c) 2024 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Share This Facebook LinkedIn Email Share on Mastodon Enter your Mastodon instance URL (optional)[ ] Share