The Atlas of Ungulate Migration
Ungulates, large herbivorous mammals with hooves, are a vital part of many ecosystems across the globe. These animals, including species like wildebeest, caribou, elk, and zebra, often migrate seasonally over vast distances. These migrations play a crucial role in maintaining the resilience of ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and even sustaining local economies. However, human activities have increasingly disrupted the natural migratory routes of animals. As a result, tracking ungulate migration has become an essential tool for conservation efforts aimed at preserving both the animals and the ecosystems they depend on.
The UN has now launched a new interactive map, the Atlas of Ungulate Migration, to serve as a vital resource for tracking and conserving ungulate migrations across the globe. Powered by detailed GPS tracking data, this repository of migration maps is designed to inform conservation planning, infrastructure development, and policymaking efforts.
By providing insights into the migratory paths of some of the world's most iconic species - such as the Serengeti wildebeest, African elephants, and the Central Asian saiga - the Atlas allows stakeholders to make evidence-based decisions that balance development with environmental preservation.
Understanding Ungulate Migration and its Importance
Ungulate migration refers to the seasonal movements of hooved animals that traverse vast landscapes in search of food, water, or suitable climates. In temperate regions, animals often move between summer and winter ranges, while in tropical areas, they follow the availability of water between dry and rainy seasons. These migrations are essential for the survival of species, influencing the health of ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and even sustaining rural economies through hunting and ecotourism.
However, human activities, such as urban development, road construction, and agricultural expansion, have increasingly fragmented the landscapes that ungulates rely on. This has disrupted migration routes, leading to population declines in species like bison, wildebeest, and elk. In this context, the Atlas of Ungulate Migration plays a crucial role by mapping out these routes and highlighting areas where conservation efforts are most needed.
Tracking the Migratory Routes of Bird Species
The eBird Status and Trends maps offer another powerful tool for understanding wildlife movements, complementing the insights provided by the Atlas of Ungulate Migration. These maps, developed by the eBird Science team, utilize sophisticated statistical models and machine learning to analyze vast datasets, including raw bird observation data submitted by the public and satellite imagery from NASA, NOAA, and USGS. By integrating these sources, eBird creates predictive visualizations that showcase bird migration patterns, population trends, and range boundaries with high precision. This information helps decision-makers, scientists, and birders alike to better understand the dynamics of bird populations throughout the year.
One of the key features of these tools is the eBird Trends maps, which reveal long-term patterns in bird abundance. These maps show where certain bird species have been increasing or decreasing since 2007, offering the most detailed insights available on bird population changes. Such data is invaluable for conservationists working to reverse the widespread declines in bird populations by targeting the areas where species are most at risk.
By visualizing seasonal abundance patterns, these maps enhance our understanding of bird biology and migration ecology. The animations generated from this data are not only mesmerizing but also serve as practical tools for guiding conservation efforts, helping scientists and policymakers protect critical habitats along migratory routes.
