Articles tagged with Animal Migration
A study found that reef manta rays live and travel long-term between two UNESCO World Heritage areas in Australia, visiting protected sites for over a decade. The research uses satellite tags and photographs to fill gaps in migratory patterns for this large species of rays.
A new study reveals that female Emigrant butterflies selectively burden themselves with eggs during long-distance flights, whereas males travel light. This disparity stems from differences in predictability of habitat patches and larval host plants between migrating and dispersing species.
A recent study by Vaishali Bhaumik and Dr Krushnamegh Kunte reveals contrasting effects of migration and dispersal on flight morphology in butterflies. Female butterfly populations that disperse over short distances have a higher egg load, but this declines rapidly as their thorax size increases, enabling stronger flight muscles.
Researchers tracked green sea turtles migrating long distances in the Indian Ocean to small oceanic islands, revealing that they can redirect in the open ocean at a crude level. The study provides evidence of a map sense with open ocean reorientation, allowing turtles to fine-tune their navigation.
A study by researchers from the University of Bristol has identified the ancestral origin of tequila bats in Mexico, revealing distinct migratory patterns and breeding habits. The findings support the need for targeted conservation management strategies to protect this Near Threatened species.
A recent study found that the Maryland Wind Energy Area, where an offshore wind farm is planned, serves as a crucial migration corridor for Atlantic sturgeon and striped bass. The development of wind turbines in this area could create habitat around which fish linger, potentially disrupting their migrations.
Research by Bangor University and University of Plymouth reveals artificial lighting disrupts lunar compass used by sand hoppers and other marine species, leading to altered migration patterns and potential ecosystem impacts.
Researchers found the wintering grounds of Bewick's swans shifted east by nearly 13km per year, changing their migratory patterns. The shifts suggest the species can adapt to climate change, but conservation efforts need to consider species dynamics in relation to climate change.
A new University of Wyoming study reveals that drought reduces the availability of key food resources by shortening the duration of spring green-up, altering the progression of the "green wave" across the landscape. As a result, the benefits of migration for mule deer and other migratory herbivores are likely to decrease.
A new study found that mule deer migrations are limited when surface disturbance exceeds 3 percent, but can continue through areas with lower disturbance. Researchers hope to expand this work to understand how migratory animals respond to disturbed landscapes.
Researchers found that marine species are moving up to six times faster than their terrestrial counterparts in response to global warming. The study analyzed over 12,000 species and found that certain conditions enable marine species to adapt quickly to temperature shifts towards the poles.
A study published in Quaternary Science Reviews found that many local animals stayed put in the ecologically rich ecosystem at Pinnacle Point, allowing early humans to flourish. The researchers used ancient herbivore teeth to track migratory patterns and discovered a lack of movement among most animals.
Researchers found most southern right whales visiting South Georgia breed in South America, contrary to previous suspicion. This discovery will help track population recovery and inform conservation strategies.
A study found that large striped bass from Chesapeake Bay migrate to ocean waters when they reach 32 inches in length, while smaller fish remain resident. This new understanding can aid fisheries management by providing tailored catch and size limits.
DNA scientists have found genetic traces of species like the Brazilian cownose ray and Gulf kingfish in New Jersey's Barnegat Inlet, defying predicted migration patterns. The study used a harmless and economical method to monitor marine life movements, diversity, distribution, and abundance.
Researchers have created a new Pt-based catalyst using the 'composite energy trap' model, which effectively inhibits migration and agglomeration of loaded nanoparticles. The model catalyst retains high activity even after aging at 1000°C, offering promising results for sintering-resistant nano-catalysts.
A recent study published in African Journal of Ecology found that naked mole rats do not disperse according to moon phases. Captured dispersing naked mole rats showed no correlation with full moon or new moon, suggesting cues from the social environment may be triggering this behavior.
A group of marine scientists, including Stony Brook University's Oliver Shipley, is calling on governments to establish larger spatial protections for sharks in the Greater Caribbean. The region boasts high marine biodiversity and contains many migratory shark species, but has been overlooked in conservation efforts.
A new study by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School revealed that Atlantic tarpon migrate thousands of kilometers in distance beyond U.S. borders. The research found the fish use both freshwater and estuarine habitats throughout their life, with previously unknown spawning locations identified in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
A research team has uncovered four new extinct turtle species from the Arlington Archosaur Site in Texas, including a river turtle and the oldest side-necked turtle found in North America. The discovery suggests extensive intercontinental migration of turtles during this time.
Killer whales prefer large, juicy Chinook salmon, leading to their decline due to overconsumption. The study found that resident orcas are likely the main driver behind the decline, as they increasingly target bigger fish.
A recent study found that managed rivers in California are compromising the diversity of native Chinook salmon, making them more vulnerable to environmental changes. The researchers suggest that restoring natural flows and habitats could improve their survival rates, while also preserving a 'portfolio effect' that allows for adaptabili...
A University of Maryland-led study found that climate cycles and insect pests drive caribou migration timing. Caribou herds across North America synchronize their migrations at roughly the same time due to ocean-driven climate cycles, but arrival times depend on previous summer's weather conditions.
Researchers found that European glass eels use their magnetic sense to imprint a memory of current direction in the estuary where they become juveniles. This helps them orient in moving water during migration.
Researchers discovered fossils of 480-million-year-old arthropods in linear formation, indicating possible collective behavior. The findings suggest that group behaviors comparable to modern animals existed as early as 480 million years ago.
University of Hawaii researchers have captured a groundbreaking video of humpback whales using bubble nets, providing new insights into the fine-scale details of this behavior. The study is part of a larger project investigating causes of a possible decline in humpback whale numbers.
A research team studied 593 gorillas over a decade, finding females migrate to healthier groups to avoid transmission of yaws, a contagious skin disease. The scientists discovered that females can detect one symptom of the disease: disfigurement.
Researchers found that American bellflowers' colonization of new areas led to beneficial adaptations, such as self-fertilization, but also detrimental mutations reducing overall vigor. This study draws attention to climate change's potential legacies and the inherent perils of species expansion.
Researchers found that memory plays a crucial role in guiding mule deer migrations, with past migration routes and seasonal ranges having a significant influence on their choice of path. This cognitive map helps animals navigate tens to hundreds of miles between seasonal ranges.
A new study analyzes 10 years of data on manatee movement patterns, revealing that they use nearshore channels more frequently and travel faster in all channel types. This research sheds light on the risks associated with vessel collisions and informs suggestions for optimal channel maintenance.
A new study found that extreme draining of Fall Creek Reservoir in Oregon aided juvenile chinook salmon downstream migration and led to the elimination of invasive largemouth bass and crappie. The reservoir's natural river-like conditions promoted a native species-dominated ecosystem.
Researchers tracked the migration patterns of Galapagos giant tortoises over multiple years using GPS technology. The study found that these tortoises do not adjust their migration timing based on current environmental conditions such as fog, rain, and temperature, unlike many other migratory species.
Researchers aim to refine understanding of how carbon moves in the ocean by studying lesser-known mechanisms such as particle injection pumps. These processes, including vertical migration and subduction, are thought to sequester significant amounts of carbon, rivaling the biological gravitational pump.
Scientists used fossil and modern whale barnacles to reconstruct the movements of ancient humpback and grey whales. The study found that summer-breeding and winter-feeding migrations have been a consistent part of these whales' way of life for hundreds of thousands of years.
Researchers analyzed oxygen isotope signatures from whale barnacle shells to reconstruct ancient migration patterns. The study found consistent seasonal variations in oxygen isotopes, mirroring modern whale migration patterns and suggesting that baleen whales have retained their migratory routes for over 270,000 years.
A new study reveals that fossilized barnacles can serve as a proxy for the migrations of whales in the distant past. Oxygen isotope ratios in barnacle shells change with ocean conditions, allowing scientists to chart the migration routes of whales.
Scientists at Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research investigate energy requirements and travel speeds of migrating Nathusius' bats. Bats are found to travel at the speed where their range reaches a maximum, enabling them to cover long distances with minimal energy expenditure.
Research highlights unique animal cultural knowledge that benefits conservation, with insights into species-specific behaviors and social learning processes. Protecting 'social capital' by considering cultural diversity may be crucial for wildlife resilience and adaptation.
Researchers found that blue whales' migration patterns are driven by the timing of spring phytoplankton blooms and their ability to remember stable foraging sites. This allows them to optimize food tracking and forage in areas with higher long-term productivity.
Researchers found that blue whales align their migration timing with historical averages of krill production, rather than responding to current prey patches. This suggests that blue whales rely on memory to locate stable, high-quality foraging sites, which could make adaptation to climate change more difficult.
A study by Oregon State University found that extreme draining of Fall Creek Reservoir helps juvenile spring chinook salmon migrate downstream, but also changes the aquatic food web and releases potential predators. The effects on the entire river system are uncertain, but the impacts for juvenile salmon are twofold.
Researchers have discovered that fin whales may live in the Gulf of California year-round, with a resident population estimated to be between 100 and 700 individuals. The study suggests that the gulf provides an ideal habitat for the whales, allowing them to exploit a rich food source and potentially breed and calve.
A new research study reveals that half of the monarchs in southern Florida originated from the American Midwest, challenging the long-held assumption of their core breeding range. This finding raises questions about the shrinking overwintering population in Mexico and suggests alternative migration routes.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland highlights the need to revise fish stocking obligations in hydropower operations. The research emphasizes that compensating harm to fisheries with fish farming is unsustainable, and natural reproductive cycles must be prioritized.
A new study reveals that insects can transport pollen from one continent to another, enabling the mixing of plant species across vast distances. By analyzing the DNA sequences in this pollen, researchers were able to identify 157 species of plants from Africa and Europe.
Mule deer migration routes in Wyoming reveal a strong link between fitness and nutritional condition. The research identifies landscape features that facilitate movement and access to forage, while also highlighting the importance of avoiding human disturbance.
The atlas uses state-of-the-art data and cartography to visualize the finely choreographed movements of migratory big-game species. The maps reveal how animals have perfectly tuned their movements to landscapes and seasons, highlighting the challenges faced by conservation efforts.
Nonmigratory Atlantic salmon can extract positional information from Earth's magnetic field, orienting themselves appropriately in response to different magnetic conditions. This skill may enable salmon escaping from aquaculture to better navigate and invade habitats, challenging previous assumptions about their navigational abilities
A Simon Fraser University study has found that steelhead trout age of migration, size, and numbers are controlled by a combination of temperature, co-occurring salmon, and other factors. In years with large pink salmon returns, steelhead migrated to sea at a younger age, producing more young fish from the river system.
Daily fish migration fuels metabolism of single-celled heterotrophic prokaryotes, revealing a labile DOC source that supports microbial community growth. Higher microbial diversity found in mesopelagic zone than expected.
Researchers found that migratory ungulates develop and persist migration behaviors through social learning of local knowledge. Reintroduced populations showed better green-surfing ability over time, demonstrating the importance of cultural transmission in these nomadic mammals.
A new study tracks migratory marine predators, revealing how their movements relate to geopolitical boundaries in the Pacific Ocean. The results provide critical information for designing international cooperative agreements needed to manage these species.
A recent study found that installing wildlife crossing structures over highways has increased the success rate of pronghorn crossings, reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions by 70 percent. Pronghorn adapted to using these structures within four years, increasing their crossing success rates and decreasing stress levels.
A study by Simon Fraser University aquatic ecologists reveals that young salmon may leap out of water to remove sea lice, which can reduce growth and competitive ability. The researchers found that on average, leaping salmon had 22% fewer sea lice than non-leaping fish.
Researchers have identified a pheromone, a fatty acid derivative, that guides larval and adult sea lampreys to spawning grounds. The discovery holds potential for disrupting adult sea lampreys' reproduction, offering a new approach to controlling the invasive species.
A new study from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) provides insights into the secret life of leopard seals, tracking their migration patterns between Antarctica's sea ice and sub-Antarctic islands. The research reveals that these apex predators spend up to one-third of their time out of the water, with behavior changes throughout the year.
New research suggests that a narrow corridor along Alaska's Pacific coast could have enabled early human migration to the Americas as far back as 17,000 years ago. The authors used dating and reanalysis of animal bones to reconstruct deglaciation and find that the area was habitable during this time period.
Researchers at FAU have discovered that marine animals have been migrating for millions of years in response to changes in temperature. Coral, molluscs, and sponges have followed their preferred cold and warm zones for half a billion years, with isotherms shifting towards the poles or equator as temperatures rise or fall.
Research highlights transhemispheric ecosystem link spanning Pacific Ocean between pink salmon abundance and short-tailed shearwater populations. Declining short-tailed shearwater productivity linked to increasing pink salmon abundance in North Pacific Ocean.
Researchers have created a modeling framework that considers ecological dimensions driving bat migration patterns to forecast Ebola outbreaks. The tool analyzes spatially distributed random fluctuations of environmental parameters to understand how they impact bat migrations.