Migration Mapper: Identifying movement corridors and seasonal ranges for large mammal conservation

Merkle, Jerod A.; Gage, Josh; Sawyer, Hall; Lowrey, Blake; Kauffman, Matthew J.

doi:10.1111/2041-210x.13976

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The migratory status of each ibex (migrant or resident) and migration tracks (for migrants) were visually determined using the application Migration Mapper TM (version 2.3, Merkle et al, 2022; see Appendix S2 for the parameters used). This application provides tools to visually identify migrants, migration periods and tracks using the Net Squared Displacement (NSD; squared Euclidean distance between the first locations of the GPS trajectory and the following one; Börger & Fryxell, 2012; Appendix S3).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying the environmental drivers of corridors and predicting connectivity between seasonal ranges in multiple populations of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) as tools for conserving migration

Chauveau

Garel

Toïgo

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Seasonal migrations are central ecological processes connecting populations, species and ecosystems in time and space. Land migrations, such as those of ungulates, are particularly threatened by habitat transformations and fragmentation, climate change and other environmental changes caused by anthropogenic activities. Mountain ungulate migrations are neglected because they are relatively short, although traversing highly heterogeneous altitudinal gradients particularly exposed to anthropogenic threats. Detecting migration routes of these species and understanding their drivers is therefore of primary importance to predict connectivity and preserve ecosystem functions and services. The populations of Alpine ibexCapra ibex, an iconic species endemic to the Alps, have all been reintroduced from the last remnant source population. Because of their biology and conservation history, Alpine ibex populations are mostly disconnected. Hence, despite a general increase in abundance and overall distribution range, their conservation is strictly linked to the interplay between external threats and related behavioral responses, including space use and migration. By using 337 migratory tracks from 425 GPS-collared individuals from 15 Alpine ibex populations distributed across their entire range, we (i) identified the environmental drivers of movement corridors in both spring and autumn and (ii) compared the abilities of three modeling approaches to predict migratory movements between seasonal ranges of the 15 populations. Trade-offs between energy expenditure, food, and cover seemed to be the major driver of migration routes: steep south-facing snow-free slopes were selected while high elevation changes were avoided. This revealed the importance of favorable resources and an attempt to limit energy expenditures and perceived predation risk. Based on these findings, we provided efficient connectivity models to inform conservation of Alpine ibex and its habitats, and a framework for future research investigating connectivity in migratory species.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying the environmental drivers of corridors and predicting connectivity between seasonal ranges in multiple populations of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) as tools for conserving migration

Chauveau

Garel

Toïgo

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…To define timing of migration, we used Migration Mapper V. 2.0 (Merkle et al, 2022). Migration Mapper plots GPS locations on a map along with a profile of net squared displacement to allow the user to visually inspect these profiles to specify when individuals begin and complete migratory movements.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasticity and repeatability in spring migration and parturition dates with implications for annual reproductive success

Laforge

Webber

Wal

2023

Journal of Animal Ecology

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In seasonal environments, animals should be adapted to match important life‐history traits to when environmental conditions are optimal. Most animal populations therefore reproduce when resource abundance is highest to increase annual reproductive success. When facing variable, and changing, environments animals can display behavioural plasticity to acclimate to changing conditions. Behaviours can further be repeatable. For example, timing of behaviours and life history traits such as timing of reproduction may indicate phenotypic variation. Such variation may buffer animal populations against the consequences of variation and change. Our goal was to quantify plasticity and repeatability in migration and parturition timing in response to timing of snowmelt and green‐up in a migratory herbivore (caribou, Rangifer tarandus, n = 132 ID‐years) and their effect on reproductive success. We used behavioural reaction norms to quantify repeatability in timing of migration and timing of parturition in caribou and their plasticity to timing of spring events, while also quantifying phenotypic covariance between behavioural and life‐history traits. Timing of migration for individual caribou was positively correlated with timing of snowmelt. The timing of parturition for individual caribou varied as a function of inter‐annual variation in timing of snowmelt and green‐up. Repeatability for migration timing was moderate, but low for timing of parturition. Plasticity did not affect reproductive success. We also did not detect any evidence of phenotypic covariance among any traits examined—timing of migration was not correlated with timing of parturition, and neither was there a correlation in the plasticity of these traits. Repeatability in migration timing suggests the possibility that the timing of migration in migratory herbivores could evolve if the repeatability detected in this study has a genetic or otherwise heritable basis, but observed plasticity may obviate the need for an evolutionary response. Our results also suggest that observed shifts in caribou parturition timing are due to plasticity as opposed to an evolutionary response to changing conditions. While this provides some evidence that populations may be buffered from the consequences of climate change via plasticity, a lack of repeatability in parturition timing could impede adaptation as warming increases.

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“…Delineating migratory movements using net squared displacement.— We determined migration timing using net squared displacement (NSD) calculated using the R programming language (R Core Team 2021) and Migration Mapper V 2.0 (Merkle et al 2022). NSD is the square of the straight-line distance between the first location of an animal in a series of relocations and all its subsequent points.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, seasonal environmental conditions in Newfoundland are variable across years, which might have promoted the persistence of partially migratory behavior, with migrants moving relatively short distances Laforge et al (2021). (Shepard et al 2013;Alston et al 2020) Delineating migratory movements using net squared displacement.-We determined migration timing using net squared displacement (NSD) calculated using the R programming language (R Core Team 2021) and Migration Mapper V 2.0 (Merkle et al 2022). NSD is the square of the straightline distance between the first location of an animal in a series of relocations and all its subsequent points.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncertainty during migration: the role of predictable resources in unpredictable conditions in determining movement in Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)

Dedeban,

Webber,

Laforge

et al. 2023

Journal of Mammalogy

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Environmental and climatic variation drive animal migration. Animals must adjust their behavioral strategies, for example, habitat selection, to match best variation in resources whose value likely varies with conditions such as weather. For example, climate change makes processes such as snowmelt and the emergence of vegetation less predictable at the scale of months or weeks. Furthermore, climate change makes meteorological conditions unpredictable—or dynamic—at the scale of days and hours. The profitability of selecting any particular resource may vary according to local meteorological condition. We studied the impact of dynamic weather conditions on fine-scale movement strategies and resource selection during spring migration of adult female Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus). We assessed the role played by static resources such as open, lichen, and closed forest habitats and their role in a context-dependent of dynamic weather conditions, including temperature, precipitation, and changing snow water equivalent. We tested the role of static resources and dynamic conditions in three contexts: (1) whether caribou were encamped or moving using hidden Markov models; state-specific habitat selection for, and the interaction between, resources and conditions while (2) encamped and (3) moving. Weather conditions influenced the probability of moving or staying encamped, and the probability of selecting for a resource, which likely reflects the profitability of a given resource in a particular condition. The probability of staying encamped in the forest increases as temperature increases, and the probability of selecting an open area is higher when precipitation is lower. We highlight how meteorological conditions modify the selection of a static resource and likely the profitability of a given resource. The resource utility to a consumer is increasingly susceptible to climate change-induced effects.

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Migration Mapper: Identifying movement corridors and seasonal ranges for large mammal conservation

Cited by 14 publications

References 37 publications

Identifying the environmental drivers of corridors and predicting connectivity between seasonal ranges in multiple populations of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) as tools for conserving migration

Identifying the environmental drivers of corridors and predicting connectivity between seasonal ranges in multiple populations of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) as tools for conserving migration

Plasticity and repeatability in spring migration and parturition dates with implications for annual reproductive success

Uncertainty during migration: the role of predictable resources in unpredictable conditions in determining movement in Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)

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