Cognitive Science 0113 - Animal Migrations

Animal migrations are a core component of ecosystem functioning and connectivity. Movement of animals across different habitats transfers nutrients, modulates disease processes, and supports dynamic food webs. In this course, we will review and discuss current literature describing animal migrations across terrestrial, marine, and aquatic habitats. Students will learn about the role of animal migration in local and regional ecology and the behaviors that contribute to coordinated movements of populations. We will read and discuss peer-reviewed literature that identifies the array of behavioral mechanisms and environmental and biological stimuli involved in animal migration across taxa. We will contextualize this knowledge within our understanding of climate change impacts and the sociopolitical complexities of wildlife management across borders. Keywords:animal behavior, migration, ecology, aquatic, marine, terrestrial

Environments and Change Students should expect to spend 6-8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time Field Trip fee: (mileage, admission fees, etc.) 22 miles - Holyoke Fish Lift to observe fish migration