Movement and migration in a changing world

This chapter focuses on the documented effects that recent changes in habitat quality, climate, and biotic interactions have had on the spatiotemporal regimes of migrating animals. Animals of a large number of taxa and ecological traits have been affected. Most habitat changes have been detrimental, such as the loss of tidal mud flats sites for migratory fuelling, and roads, fences, and dams that cut off migration routes. At the same time, relatively new habitats such as urban areas and intense agriculture have had positive effects. Climate change has had the largest impact on the timing of movement, but few examples exist of its influence on migration’s spatial aspect. Biotic interactions, such as increased hunting and higher numbers of falcons, have affected animal migration in both time and space. In general, the threat from rapid global change appears largest for terrestrial animals, long-distance migrants, habitat specialists, and animals with slow reproduction.