Biology of Migratory Animals

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Migration is one of the most spectacular behaviors seen in nature. It is seen in a tremendous diversity of animal groups, from monarch butterflies and leatherback sea turtles, to ruby-throated hummingbirds and blue whales. Migration also brings enormous complexity to the understanding of these species' ecology, from how they move through air and water to their ability to navigate the globe. Equally fascinating is how they connect people and cultures from distant lands and how we have developed legal frameworks in the forms of treaties, policies and sometimes laws to protect and conserve these species. This course will introduce students to the magnificent biological diversity of migration and dig deep into various aspects of their ecology and evolution all while emphasizing the challenges for their conservation. Several field excursions to the local area will introduce students to the organisms themselves from migration in insects and fish to birds. Students will also develop and defend a research proposal on an emerging topic in migratory species biology.