Migration in organisms refers to the directed, typically seasonal or life-stage–dependent movement of individuals or populations between distinct geographic regions, often driven by spatiotemporal variation in resources, breeding opportunities, or environmental conditions. It is characterized by relatively long-distance, persistent movements with clear origin and destination areas, underpinned by evolved orientation and navigation mechanisms (e.g., celestial, geomagnetic, olfactory cues). Migration can be obligate or facultative, partial or complete within a population, and plays critical roles in gene flow, metapopulation dynamics, ecological connectivity, disease spread, and responses to climate and habitat change across taxa including animals, plants (via propagule movement), and microorganisms.
Migratory birds, sea turtles and salmon have something in common: every year, they return to their birthplaces to reproduce. A study now published in the journal Science Advances shows that Atlantic herring in the Baltic ...
Ecology
Nov 3, 2025
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Wolves roaming the Mongolian steppes cover more than 7,000 kilometers a year. The Arctic tern flies from pole to pole in its annual migration. Compared to these long-distance travelers of land, sea and sky, humans might seem ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 27, 2025
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44
An Australian freshwater Murray cod has surprised scientists by swimming a marathon 860 kilometers (530 miles) along a major river system—believed to be a record for the species.
Plants & Animals
Oct 27, 2025
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97
Above Missouri's wetlands, a drone quietly hums above flocks of migratory water birds, its camera capturing the ripples of movement below. With this technology, University of Missouri researchers are redefining how wildlife ...
Ecology
Oct 22, 2025
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One of the enduring ichthyological mysteries is how migratory fish know when it is time to move from their winter to summer habitats. The ability to tell when the seasons are changing is crucial for a wide range of major ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 22, 2025
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Could the boreal forest be less fragile than we think? Contrary to the predictions of models that forecast its rapid decline in favor of temperate maple forests, the ecological history of the boreal forest is showing surprising ...
Environment
Oct 16, 2025
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Hurricane Idalia blew a flamboyance, or flock, of 300–400 flamingos that was likely migrating between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba off course in August 2023 and unceremoniously deposited the birds across a wide swath of ...
Ecology
Oct 15, 2025
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For countless millions across the globe, commuting to work or school is an everyday routine. But during a pandemic, the practice can contribute enormously to the spread of infectious disease, a fact that many traditional ...
General Physics
Oct 14, 2025
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As millions of birds migrate south for the winter, many face dangerous obstacles on their journey, and experts say people can help them have a safe trip.
Plants & Animals
Oct 13, 2025
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45
The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping. Numerous animals are migrating south, others are seeking their hibernacula—including bats. However, while hibernation is becoming shorter and shorter for many animals ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 8, 2025
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