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.
"I'm not going if I don't know anyone"—sound all too familiar? Well it's not just humans. Socializing in a new group can be tricky. People often rely on word of mouth and friends-of-friends connections. New research on gorillas ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 5, 2025
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Every day, as the sun sets, billions of small animals make their way from the depths of the ocean to the surface to feed. As the next day begins, these zooplankton swim back down. It's the largest synchronous migration on ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 31, 2025
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Whales are swimming farther than previously estimated—up to 20% more—according to a study, "Accounting for Earth's curvature and elevation in animal movement modeling," that has been published in Ecology.
Plants & Animals
Jul 31, 2025
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Every year, nomadic Australian waterbirds fly vast distances to find food and the perfect nesting site. They have to be good at finding not just water, but the right kind of water. But across much of Australia, that can be ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 30, 2025
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Climate change is causing marmots to move, but not far, according to a recent study by SLF biologist Anne Kempel. She investigated the altitude at which most marmots currently live and compared her findings with data from ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 29, 2025
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As tropical fishes colonize new habitats in temperate oceans, made available to them because of ocean warming, researchers have found that those who shoal alongside neighbors that are native to the area learn behaviors that ...
Ecology
Jul 28, 2025
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New research into the energy use of humpback whales during their annual migrations has found they lose 11,000kg of blubber—which is equivalent to the energy obtained after feeding on 57,000 kg of Antarctic krill—highlighting ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 28, 2025
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When you think about climate change in our oceans, you may picture coral bleaching, melting sea ice, or extreme weather events. But beneath the ocean's surface, another quiet shift is underway. Australia's tropical fish are ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 25, 2025
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University of Queensland surveys reveal the peak of the southern migration of humpback whales down the east Australian coast is now weeks earlier than it was 21 years ago, and a warming Southern Ocean may be the reason. The ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 18, 2025
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Currents can affect marine animals' locomotion, energy expenditure and ability to navigate; the force of currents may cause them to drift off-course of their intended trajectory.
Plants & Animals
Jul 17, 2025
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