The Phillips Lab

Selected Publications from the Phillips Lab:

Click the ‘.pdf’ for the full article in PDF format

2006

Muheim, R, J.B. Phillips, S. Akesson 2006. Polarized light cues underlie compass calibration in migratory songbird. Science 313: 837-839. (pdf)

Muheim, R., F.R. Moore & J.B. Phillips 2006. Calibration of magnetic and celestial compass cues - a review of cue-conflict experiments. J. Exp. Biol. 209: 2-17. (pdf)

Rowe, M.P., C.L. Baube & J.B. Phillips 2006. Trying to see red through stickleback photoreceptors: Functional substitution of receptor sensitivities. Ethology 112: 218-229. (pdf)

Phillips, J.B., R. Muheim & K. Schmidt-Koenig 2006. True Navigation: Sensory Bases of Gradient Maps.  In M.F. Brown and R.G. Cook (Eds.). Animal Spatial Cognition: Behavioral, Comparative, Computational & Neural Approaches. [Available On-line: (Fall 2006)].

Muheim, R, N.M. Edgar, K.S. Sloan & J.B. Phillips 2006. Magnetic compass orientation in C57BL/6 mice. Learn. Behav. 34:366-373. (pdf)

Freake, M.J., R. Muheim & J.B. Phillips 2006. Magnetic Maps in Animals – a theory comes of age? Quart. Rev. Biol. 81:327-347. (pdf)

2005

Freake, M.J. & J.B. Phillips. 2005. Light-dependent shift in bullfrog tadpole magnetic compasss orientation: evidence for a common magnetoreception mechanism in anuran and urodele amphibians. Ethology 111: 241-254. (pdf)

Diego-Rasilla, F. J., R. M. Luengo & J. B. Phillips 2005. Magnetic compass mediates nocturnal homing by the alpine newt, Triturus alpestris. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 58: 361-365. (pdf)

Wente, W.H. & J.B. Phillips 2005. Microhabitat selection by the Pacific treefrog, Hyla regilla. Anim. Behav. 70: 279-287 (pdf)

Wente, W.H. & J. B. Phillips 2005. Seasonal color change in a population of Pacific treefrogs, Hyla regilla. J. Herp. 39: 161-165.

2004

Ritz, T, P. Thalau, J.B. Phillips, R. Wiltschko & W. Wiltschko. 2004. Resonance effects indicate a radical-pair mechanism for avian magnetic compass. Nature 429: 177-180. (pdf)

Rowe, M.P., C.L. Baube, E.R. Lowe & J.B. Phillips 2004. Optimal mechanisms for finding and selecting males: How threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) should encode male belly colors. J. Comp. Physiol. 190: 241-256. (pdf)

2003

Deutschlander , M.E., M.J. Freake, S.C. Borland, J.B. Phillips, R.C. Madden, L.E. Anderson, & B.W. Wilson. 2003. Learned magnetic compass orientation by the Siberian Hamster, Phodopus sungorus. Animal Behaviour 65: 779-786. (pdf)

Fischer, J.H., U. Munro, & J.B. Phillips. 2003. Magnetic navigation by an avian migrant? In: Avian Migration. P. Berthold, E. Gwinner & E. Sonnenschein (Eds.). pp. 423-432. Springer: Heidelberg, New York.(pdf)

Wente, W.H. & J.B. Phillips 2003. Fixed green and brown color morphs and a novel color changing morph in the Pacific treefrog, Hyla regilla. Amer. Nat. 162: 461-473. ( pdf)

2002

Freake, M.J., S.C. Borland & J.B. Phillips. 2002. Use of a magnetic compass for Y-axis orientation in l larval bullfrogs, Bufo catesbeiana. Copeia 2002: 466-471.

Phillips, J.B., S.C. Borland, M.J. Freake, J. Brassart & J.L. Kirschvink. 2002. 'Fixed axis' magnetic orientation by an amphibian: non-shoreward-directed compass orientation, misdirected homing or positioning a magnetite-based map detector in a consistent alignment relative to the magnetic field? J. Exp. Biol. 205: 3903-3914. (pdf)

Ritz, T., D.H. Dommer & J.B.Phillips. 2002. Shedding light on vertebrate magnetoreception. Neuron 34: 503-506. (pdf)

Phillips, J.B., M.J. Freake, J.H. Fischer, S.C. Borland 2002. Behavioral titration of a magnetic map coordinate. J. Comp. Physiol. 188: 157-160. (pdf)

2001

Fischer, J.H., M.J. Freake, S.C. Borland & J.B. Phillips. 2001. Evidence for the use of a magnetic map by an amphibian. Anim. Behav. 62(1): 1-10. (pdf )

Phillips, J.B., M.E. Deutschlander, M.J. Freake, S.C. Borland 2001. The role of extraocular photoreceptors in newt magnetic compass orientation: evidence for parallels between light-dependent magnetoreception and polarized light detection in vertebrates. J. Exp. Biol. 204: 2543-2552. (pdf)

2000

Deutschlander, M.E. , J.B. Phillips & S.C. Borland 2000. Magnetic compass orientation in the Eastern red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens: Rapid acquisition of the shoreward axis. Copeia 2000 : 413-419.

1999

Brassart, J., J.L. Kirschvink, J.B. Phillips & S.C Borland. 1999. Ferromagnetic material in the Eastern red-spotted newt. J. Exp. Biol. 202: 3155-3160. (pdf )

Deutschlander , M.E. , S.C. Borland & J.B. Phillips. 1999a. Extraocular magnetic compass in newts. Nature 400: 324-325. (pdf )

Deutschlander , M.E. , J.B. Phillips & S.C. Borland. 1999b. The case for light-dependent magnetic orientation in animals. J. Exp. Biol. 202: 891-908. (pdf )

1998

Phillips, J.B. 1998. Magnetoreception. In: Amphibian Biology, Vol. 2, Sensory Perception. H. Heatwole (Ed.), Surrey Beatty & Sons.

1997

Munro, U., J.A. Munro & J.B. Phillips. 1997a. Evidence for a magnetite-based navigational "map" in birds. Naturwissenschaften 84: 26-28. (pdf)

Munro, U., J.A. Munro, J.B. Phillips & W. Wiltschko. 1997b. Effect of wavelength of light and pulse magnetisation on different magnetoreception systems in a migratory bird. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 189-198.( pdf )

Phillips, J.B. and M.E. Deutschlander 1997. Magnetoreception in terrestrial vertebrates: Implications for possible mechanisms of EMF interaction with biological systems. In: The Melatonin Hypothesis: Electric Power and the Risk of Breast Cancer, R.G. Stevens, L.E. Andrews, & B.W. Wilson (Eds.). Battelle Press, Coumbus, OH, pp. 111-172.( pdf)

1996

Phillips, J.B. 1996. Magnetic navigation. J. Theor. Biol. 180: 309-319. (pdf)

1995 and older

Phillips, J.B., K. Adler & S.C. Borland. 1995. True navigation by an amphibian. Anim. Behav. 50: 855-858. (pdf)

Deutschlander, M. and J.B. Phillips 1995. Characterization of an ultraviolet photo- reception mechanism in the retina of an amphibian. Neurosci. Let. 197: 93-96.

Phillips, J.B. & S.C. Borland. 1994. Use of a specialized magnetoreception system for homing by the eastern red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens. J. Exp. Biol. 188: 275-291. (pdf)

Phillips, J.B. & O. Sayeed. 1993. Wavelength-dependent effects of light on magnetic compass orientation in Drosophila melanogaster. J Comp Physiol A 172: 303-308. (pdf)

King, R.B., S. Hauff and J.B. Phillips. 1994. Physiological Color Change in the Green Treefrog: Responses to Background Brightness and Temperature. Copeia (2):422-432.

King, R., Douglas, J.K., J.B. Phillips and C. Baube. 1993. Scotopic spectral sensitivity of the optomotor response in the green tree frog Hyla cinerea. J. Exp. Zool. 267:40-46.

Rodda, G.H. and J.B. Phillips. 1992. Navigational systems develop along similar lines in amphibians, reptiles and birds. Ethol. Ecol. Evol. 4:43-51.

Phillips, J.B. and F.R. Moore. 1992. Calibration of the sun-Phillips, J.B. & S.C. Borland. 1992a. Magnetic compass orientation is eliminated under near-infrared light in the eastern red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens. Anm. Behav 44: 796-797. (pdf)

Phillips, J.B. & S.C. Borland. 1992b. Behavioral evidence for the use of a light-dependent magnetoreception mechanism by a vertebrate. Nature 359:142-144. (pdf)

Etchberger, C.R., M.A. Ewert, J.B. Phillips, C.E. Nelson and H.D. Prange. 1992. Physiological responses to carbon dioxide in embryonic red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). J. Exp. Zool. 264:1-10.

Waldvogel, J.A. & J.B. Phillips. 1991. Pigeon homing: Olfactory navigation does not explain the permanent‑resident deflector-loft effect. J. Exp. Biol. 155:643-660. (pdf)

Etchberger, C.R., J.B. Phillips, M.A. Ewert, C.E. Nelson, and H.D. Prange. 1991. Effects of oxygen concentration on sex determination in the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta). J. Exp. Zool. 258:394-403.

Phillips, J.B. 1990. Lek behavior in birds: Do displaying males reduce nest predation? Anim. Behav. 39:555-565. (.pdf)

Moore , F.R. and J.B. Phillips. 1988. Sunset, skylight polarization and the migratory orientation of yellow-rumped warblers (Dendroica coronata). Anim. Behav. 36:1770-1778.

Waldvogel, J.A., J.B. Phillips, and A.I. Brown. 1988. Changes in the short‑term deflector loft effect are linked to the sun compass of homing pigeons. Anim. Behav. 36:15-158.

Phillips, J.B. and J.A. Waldvogel. 1988. Celestial polarized light patterns as a calibration reference for the sun compass of homing pigeons. J. Theor. Biol. 131:55-67.

Madden, R.M. and J.B. Phillips. 1987. Failure to demonstrate magnetic field sensitivity in two species of small mammal. Anim. Learn. Behav. 15:130-134.

Phillips, J.B. 1987. Homing orientation in the Eastern red-spotted newt (Notophthalums viridescens). J. Exp. Biol. 131: 215-229.

Phillips, J.B. 1986a. Magnetic compass orientation in the Eastern red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens. J. Comp. Physiol. 158: 103-109. (.pdf )

Phillips, J.B. 1986b. Two magnetoreception pathways in a migratory salamander. Science 233: 765-767. (.pdf)

Adler, K. and J.B. Phillips. 1985. Orientation in a desert lizard (Uma notata): time compensated compass movement and polarotaxis. J. Comp. Phyiol. 156:547-552.

Phillips, J.B. and J.A. Waldvogel. 1982. Reflected light cues generate the short-term deflector-loft effects, pp. 190-202. In: Avian Navigation. Papi, F. and H.G. Wallraff, (Eds.). Springer-Verlag.

Waldvogel, J.A., J.B. Phillips, D.B. McCorkle, and W.T. Keeton. 1980. Short‑term residence in deflector lofts alters initial orientation of homing pigeons. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 7:207-211.

Schmidt-Koenig, K. and J.B. Phillips. 1978. Local anesthesia of the olfactory membrane and homing in pigeons. In: Animal Migration, Navigation, and Homing. Schmidt‑Koening, K. and W.T. Keeton (Eds.). Springer-Verlag.

Phillips, J.B. 1977. Use of the earth's magnetic field by orienting cave salamanders (Eurycea lucifaga). J. Comp. Physiol. A. 121:273-288.

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