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.
Is aging inevitable? While most living beings age, some do so more slowly than others. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science addresses a fascinating question: what if migration influences ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 25, 2025
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Block Island welcomes scores of tourists all summer long, with the Block Island ferry pulling into port 15 times a day. Come fall, new visitors arrive: migrating birds by the thousands.
Plants & Animals
Aug 21, 2025
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Climate change is reshaping fish habitats. Some fish are winners, others are losing out.
Ecology
Aug 20, 2025
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A new study by the University of Cincinnati has found that monarch butterflies have an internal compass for their epic migration that flips when the temperatures plunge. This changing polarity helps butterflies prepare for ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 19, 2025
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Imagine traveling to a new and distant place using only your senses to guide you.
Plants & Animals
Aug 16, 2025
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140
Nature often puts on incredible displays. A recent example caught on camera shows thousands of bumblebee catfish (Rhyacoglanis paranensis) climbing waterfalls in southern Brazil. This is the first time the species has been ...
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have long been known for their impressive migration abilities, with North American species traveling around 3,000 miles from the United States and Canada into Mexico or Southern California ...
Birds of feather don't always flock together, despite the adage. A study published in the Journal of Raptor Research tells the story of Arizonan bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) engaging in intriguing migrations by ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 12, 2025
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145
Northern fur seals are long-distance migrants, moving seasonally between breeding colonies and wintering grounds. After leaving breeding colonies in autumn, they travel south for winter foraging, returning in early spring. ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 7, 2025
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22
The established conservation practice of relocating animals from large, genetically diverse populations to small communities of inbred endangered species may risk introducing more damaging than beneficial gene variants into ...
Ecology
Aug 6, 2025
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