Animal Migration - Definition

Definition

Migration can take very different forms in different species and as such, there is no simple accepted definition of migration. One of the most commonly used definitions, proposed by Kennedy is

“Migratory behavior is persistent and straightened out movement effected by the animal’s own locomotory exertions or by its active embarkation upon a vehicle. It depends on some temporary inhibition of station keeping responses but promotes their eventual disinhibition and recurrence.”

Migration has also been described as a term that describes the four related concepts :

  1. persistent, straight, movement behavior
  2. relocation of an individual on a greater scale (both spatially and temporally) than its normal daily activities
  3. seasonal ‘to-and-fro’ movement of a population between two areas
  4. movement leading to the redistribution of individuals within a population

Read more about this topic:  Animal Migration

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