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Gitanjali Gnanadesikan
Princeton University’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department.
Working with Allison Shaw in Simon Levin’s theoretical ecology lab.
Original internship title: “What factors ultimately drive migration?”
Often applied definition: long distance, round trip, seasonal movements between two “worlds”: breeding grounds and wintering grounds (as studied in birds).
Problems with this definition: What is “long” distance? What if the trip is made on a different
timescale: multiple times a year or once a lifetime?
What about distinct locations that are not wintering or breeding grounds?
As described by Dingle (2007):Migration is movement that…1) Is persistent, undistracted, and directed.2) Is of greater scale and longer duration
than normal daily activities.3) Is a seasonal back-and-forth between
regions which are temporarily favorable.4) Results in geographic redistribution
within a widespread population.
Dingle, Hugh. What is Migration? Bioscience. Vol. 57, Iss. 2. Pp 113-121. Feb 2007.
Most information about migration is species-specific.
Look at migration as phenomenon across taxa.
Focused on mammals to start.
Task: conduct extensive literature –based research to compile a database of migratory behaviors using new definition.
Synthesize collected to data and look for patterns.
A-to-B: Directed movement by a group of animals between two distinct locations.
Examples: Humpback whales, Arctic Terns, and many iconic migrations.
Dispersal-recongregation: movement away from some location and then returning to some common location. Involves individuals utilizing different resources and paths.
Examples: many bats (caves), pinnipeds (breeding territories).
Confirmation of major choice. Valuable research experience and
familiarity with the field and current research.
Basis of research to be continued this year: Continue researching species (about ¼ of
mammals done). Look at more geographic data for patterns
and relationships to climate, resources, etc.
To PEI, the EEB department, and especiallyAllison Shaw for a great summer internship experience. Also the AOS department for collaborations and journal club.