What impact would a magnetic field reversal have on animals?

Answer 1

To know which way to go when migrating.

Whales use the magnetic field of the Earth for navigation purposes on their long migrations across oceans. They do not have a very good sense of sight so they use magnetism intead. It is well known that migrating animals use the unseen magnetic grid to guide them in their migrations. The idea that there is an unseen web for communication between us may seem the stuff of Science Fiction but it wasn't long ago that gravity and magnetism occupied that same position in our consciousness. I know we like to proliferate the concept that if we can't see it, isn't real but surely there has been enough proof of grids around us that serve different purposes for us to believe that there may be a web that we tap into subconsciously to communicate with each other. Many researchers believe whales use biomagnetism to do this. We already know about lots of animals and birds that use magnetic material in their bodies to help them understand where they are. Whales can run into trouble when the field is reasonably strong. Animals use it every day.

Answer 2

Actually the only animals that would be affected by a magnet (unless they swallowed metal or another magnet) would be sharks and rays. Only sharks and rays have a sixth sense that can detect minute amounts of electricity. This sense is helpful because every time a muscle moves, it gives of a tiny amount of electricity that can be detected by the sense. this sense can only pick up the pulses from a few feet away. Magnets interfere with this sense and leave them disoriented and then they try to avoid it. This sense is possible because of little pores in the skin called the ampullae of lorenzini that have a jelly like substance inside them and the jelly picks up the electricity. Unfortunately that is as far as I know about this sense.

if you do not believe me look up the ampullae of lorenzini for yourself ** **** It is thought that homing pigeons use magnetic fields, when making long distance flights, so losing that ability or having it warped with strong artificial magnetism, before the bird has established it's whereabouts, could mean it never finds it's way home.

Answer 3

it would change the seasons cuasing their life to be altered and possibly result in their death.

Answer 4

They are atracted to a lump of stoney ice in the northpole called the inoce rock. All animals are subconsiously atracted to it.