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The plasticity of ungulate migration in a changing world
Wenjing Xu1, Kristin Barker1, Avery Shawler1
1Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA.
Ecology
|February 8, 2021
Summary
Migratory ungulates show remarkable adaptability, adjusting when, where, and whether they migrate in response to environmental changes. This multidimensional migratory plasticity is widespread, offering crucial insights for ungulate conservation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Zoology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Global ungulate populations face decline due to habitat changes.
- Recent research indicates ungulates can alter migration strategies to enhance survival.
- Understanding migratory plasticity is key to ungulate conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore migratory plasticity beyond just the decision to migrate.
- To investigate spatial and temporal adjustments in ungulate migration patterns.
- To develop a framework for understanding multidimensional migratory plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Developed a novel typological framework for migratory plasticity.
- Conducted a literature review guided by this framework.
- Analyzed migration changes across 27 ungulate species.
Main Results:
- Identified 127 migration change events in response to environmental shifts.
- Observed that some species exhibit a full spectrum of migratory plasticity.
- Multidimensional migratory plasticity is pervasive across ungulate species.
Conclusions:
- Migratory plasticity in ungulates is diverse and widespread.
- Further research is needed to link plasticity to fitness outcomes.
- Monitoring migratory changes is vital for effective conservation strategies.
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