Memory, not just perception, plays an important role in terrestrial mammalian migration

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Animal Behavior
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Understanding animal migration mechanisms is crucial for conservation.
• Resource perception is the dominant hypothesis for navigational guidance.
• The role of memory in long-term migration forecasting remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of memory versus perception in guiding mammalian migration.
• To compare the effectiveness of memory-based and perception-based navigation in zebra migration.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an individual-based simulation model for migrating zebras in Botswana.
• Modeled navigation using current resource perception versus long-term memory of past resource availability.
• Compared simulated trajectories with GPS tracking data of real zebras.

Main Results:

• Memory-guided simulated zebras reached destinations significantly closer than perception-guided ones.
• Memory-guided zebras arrived 2-4 times closer, up to 100 km, to their destination.
• Memory provided a superior navigational signal compared to perception, even at large ranges.

Conclusions:

• Memory, in addition to perception, plays a vital role in directing ungulate migration.
• Migration routes informed by memory may be less flexible, impacting conservation strategies.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering memory in conservation efforts for migratory mammals.