FROSTBURG, MD — A research team from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) published a paper, entitled, "Persistent species relationships characterize migrating bird communities across stopover sites and seasons," in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences today.
Joely DeSimone, a postdoctoral researcher, and Emily Cohen, an associate professor, with the Animal Migration Research Group at UMCES’ Appalachian Laboratory collaborated with four bird observatories across eastern North America on a project funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The team found evidence of consistent social relationships among songbird species during migration.
The results of this analysis demonstrate that interspecific relationships can shape the ecology of migrating animals. The co-occurrence of different migratory species is influenced by shared habitat preferences and seasonal timing, but this study finds that species relationships also influence co-occurrence.
"We found evidence of meaningful social relationships among migrating songbirds that have generally been thought to undertake solitary, independent journeys," said DeSimone. "Interactions among these animals—like harmful competition for food or beneficial information sharing about habitat and predators—could affect the success of their migrations. Interestingly, we found the species relationships to be largely positive, suggesting they may actually benefit from social interactions during migration."
Human activities and climate change are threatening animal migrations worldwide. Migratory animals around the globe are declining and shifting the timing of their movements.
"The dramatic changes in migratory species may be reverberating throughout entire 'communities on the move' in important ways that have yet to be studied," Cohen said. "The good news is that it is increasingly possible to study the migratory journeys of co-migrating species."
Steve Dudgeon, a program director at the NSF, added: "Learning that migrating birds are characterized by persistent, non-random assemblages of interacting species opens the door to myriad questions at the intersection between networks, migration and the environment. Further research can help answer whether successful migrations depend on these networks, if some relationships are more important than others to migration, and whether key links in these networks are more vulnerable to environmental changes en route."
This study could usher in a new field of research, the community ecology of migration, encouraging future research into the nature and consequences of species interactions among migrating animals.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, UMCES scientists provide sound evidence and advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment, and prepare future scientists to meet current global challenges.
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