Migration

Abstract

Migration describes the movement of individuals between spatially separate ecological communities, typically on a seasonal or annual schedule. Several characteristics of migrations distinguish them from other forms of animal ranging behavior, including more persistent movements, of greater duration, that follow a more direct path with fewer turnings. Furthermore, migrants do not respond to resources along their path, but show a heightened response to the same resources near the migratory journey’s end. This latter feature distinguishes migrations from typical foraging and dispersal movements. Behavioral specializations may include specific activity patterns particular to departure and arrival, and unique patterns of energy allocation to support long-distance movements. The ecological consequences of migration are that they take a species from one community of organisms to another and they partition life histories so that specific phases or events occur in different ecological communities. Given these specific characteristics, human alterations to the landscape and changes to global climate are likely to have dramatic consequences on the nature of migration as well as the migratory species themselves and the communities and habitats they connect.