Large-scale disruptions to animal migration

forthcoming

This project will use state-of-the-art monitoring and experiments to investigate how animal migration is controlled, how animals use cues, and factors that govern migratory behaviour. I will do this by taking the novel approach of focusing on three large-scale disruptors that migrants can encounter on their journeys; artificial light, magnetic storms and extreme temperatures, and use the effect of these disruptors on both the individual and system level to discover how sensitive migratory behaviours are to disturbances. I will use a unique combination of multiscale radar monitoring, individual tracking and experiments to investigate how these disruptors affect different parts of the migratory process and will uncover the effects on both bird and insect migration. I will test theoretical predictions on real world outcomes of large numbers of migrants, ushering in the next breakthrough in our understanding of animal migration. -The recent increase in artificial light at night has been hypothesised to interrupt and change the way nocturnal migrants, such as many birds and insects, migrate. It is still unclear what effect light has on migration outcomes. -Migrants use the earth’s magnetic field to navigate during migration. But how robust are their navigation abilities when they encounter magnetic storms? -Migration is intimately connected to the seasonal pulse of the earth. Unseasonably warm periods are increasing in frequency, also during migration seasons. How do short periods of high temperatures affect animal migration? The overarching goal of this action is to test if several potential disruptors have detectable effects on animal migration outcomes. The results will answer important fundamental questions about how sensitive or robust animal migration is in the face of disturbances. This will enable us to understand the evolutionary processes that have shaped animal migration, and how they will interact with a changing world.