What navigational method do many migrating animals, such as grey whales, use?

Many migrating animals, such as grey whales, utilize magnetic navigation during their long journeys. This method relies on the Earth's magnetic field to guide them along their migratory routes. Animals have specialized cells or structures that can detect variations in the magnetic field, allowing them to orient themselves and navigate effectively across vast distances.

Magnetic navigation is particularly beneficial for species like grey whales, as they migrate over hundreds to thousands of kilometers from breeding to feeding grounds. Using the Earth’s magnetic field helps these animals maintain a consistent direction even when visual landmarks are absent or obscured, such as in the open ocean.

Other navigational methods, while important for some species, do not play the predominant role that magnetic navigation does for many migratory animals. Solar navigation, for example, relies on the position of the sun, which can be effective but is limited to daylight hours. Aural navigation would involve sound, which is not a primary navigational tool for grey whales. Optical navigation relies heavily on visual cues from the environment, which is not always available in open sea. Hence, magnetic navigation is the most accurate method associated with the navigation of grey whales and many other migratory species.