Gitanjali Gnanadesikan. Princeton University’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department. ...
-
Upload
clarissa-horton -
Category
Documents
-
view
223 -
download
0
Transcript of Gitanjali Gnanadesikan. Princeton University’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department. ...
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.