Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Home
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Music
    • Fashion
    • Books
    • Science
    • Technology
    • Cover Story
    • Contact
      • About
      • Amazon Disclaimer
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Privacy Policy
      • DMCA / Copyrights Disclaimer
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Home»Science»Animals found to track scents using alternating strategies of sniffing
    Science

    Animals found to track scents using alternating strategies of sniffing

    By AdminSeptember 15, 2022
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Credit: CC0 Public Domain

    A new study helps explain a poorly characterized, yet common behavior among animals and shows that foraging mammals take advantage of the physics of how scents move in the air and along the ground.

    Most people are familiar with seeing a rabbit pausing and standing on its hind legs to sniff the air or a dog alternating between sniffing the ground and the air. But deciphering why animals engage in these behaviors is challenging for scientists.

    “We used what we know about how scent is carried by the wind and on the ground to understand better why animals engage in this behavior,” explains co-lead author Nicola Rigolli, postdoctoral research fellow at the Machine Learning Genoa Centre, Dept Civil Chemical Environmental Engineering, University of Genova, Italy. “We then used machine learning techniques to identify the optimal strategy for locating the source of a scent.”

    In their experiments, the team created computer simulations of how scents move in a turbulent environment. They then modeled the pros and cons of different approaches an animal might take to track a smell. The models show that a computer-simulated animal designed to minimize the time it takes to track a scent would alternate between sniffing the air and casting along the surface of the ground to find the smell.

    When an animal is far downwind of the scent, they will pause and rear up to smell more frequently because they are more likely to catch a distant scent in the air. As they close in on the source of the odor, animals will sniff along the ground more often and pause to sniff the air less frequently.

    “Airborne scents are sparse and more difficult to track than scents along the ground, but they move faster and over longer distances. The benefits of sniffing near the ground or in the air therefore vary depending on the animal’s distance from the scent’s source,” explains co-lead author Gautam Reddy. Reddy conducted the study as a postdoctoral research fellow at the NSF-Simons Center for Mathematical and Statistical Analysis of Biology at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    The team’s discoveries may also apply to sea creatures such as crabs or mollusks, which also appear to move their bodies at different heights while tracking a potential food source. But the authors cautioned that the model is a simplified version of real life. It does not consider every possible variable that may affect animal behavior. For example, animals may have a more limited capacity for remembering information than a computer, and their memory limitations may influence their behavior.

    “We hope our results inspire other scientists to conduct experiments with dogs, rodents and aquatic animals that can help us learn more about these behaviors in real-world settings,” concludes the senior author Massimo Vergassola. Vergassola led the study while working first at the University of California, San Diego as a professor of physics, and then at the Laboratoire de physique de l’École Normale Supérieure, Sorbonne Université, Paris, in conjunction with fellow senior author, Agnese Seminara, a professor of fluid dynamics at the University of Genoa.

    The research was published in eLife.

    What the nose doesn’t know helps wildlife: Using olfactory cues to protect vulnerable species More information: Nicola Rigolli et al, Alternation emerges as a multi-modal strategy for turbulent odor navigation, eLife (2022). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.76989 Journal information: eLife

    Citation: Animals found to track scents using alternating strategies of sniffing ground and air (2022, August 23) retrieved 14 September 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-08-animals-track-scents-alternating-strategies.html

    This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

    Read The Full Article Here

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    ‘Nightmare’ calculation may be too tricky for even quantum computers

    October 19, 2025

    How a genetic split helped plants conquer polluted soils

    October 18, 2025

    Could simple blood tests identify cancer earlier?

    October 18, 2025

    Replacing sugar with artificial sweetener may help your gut microbiome

    October 17, 2025

    Surprising bacteria discovery links Hawaiʻi’s groundwater to the ocean

    October 17, 2025

    CO2 levels reach record new high, locking in more global warming

    October 16, 2025
    popular posts

    Leading female animators OK Motion Club on how to perfect

    How Riverdale’s Foray Into The ’50s Failed Its Fanbase

    HGTV Star Galey Alix Confirms Breakup With ‘Bachelorette’ Winner Dale Moss

    Chemists recycle shrimp waste as catalyst for hydrogen generation

    Fire Country Season 3 Episode 15 Brings in a Big Bad the Likes of Which Cal Fire Has Never Seen

    Japan aborts launch of new rocket carrying missile sensor

    ‘Shazam’ Director Says Sequel’s Box Office Will Determine Series’ Future

    Categories
    • Books (3,479)
    • Cover Story (8)
    • Events (20)
    • Fashion (2,566)
    • Interviews (47)
    • Movies (2,779)
    • Music (3,064)
    • News (162)
    • Politics (6)
    • Science (4,630)
    • Technology (2,774)
    • Television (3,504)
    • Uncategorized (932)
    Archives
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube Reddit TikTok
    © 2025 Top Buzz Magazine. All rights reserved. All articles, images, product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT