Individual differences in migratory behaviour of ungulates

Migration is a fundamentally important behaviour for animals to optimize their ability to acquire valuable forage which varies in its availability through space and time. Several species have been shown to time their migrations to coincide with the flush of new vegetation growth as it emerges along their migratory route. Understanding how individuals cope with interannual variation in the timing of this vegetation growth, however, remains an important question. I will use data from multiple North American ungulate species to examine how individuals adjust the timing of their migrations to the timing of the availability of emergent vegetation, and whether individuals that have greater plasticity in the timing of their migrations select for areas associated with high-quality forage. I will also test for differences among species in their ability to adapt to environmental variability during migration. I anticipate this project will yield a high-quality publication that will advance our knowledge of ungulate movement and adaptability in a changing world.

Faculty Supervisor:

Eric Vander Wal

Student:

Partner:

University of Wyoming

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: