Migratory hooved mammals face higher extinction risk than non-migratory species
A study published Nov 5 in PLOS Biology by Joel Abraham of Princeton University and colleagues found that migratory ungulates faced greater extinction rates over the last 100,000 years.
Human activities disrupt migration routes
Researchers analyzed fossil evidence and modern data to determine the behavior of 51 extinct ungulate species. Human actions such as building roads and fences have physically blocked many migration paths in recent decades. These barriers combined with resource changes driven by climate change have caused population declines.
Predicting resources creates vulnerability
The success of migration depends on animals accurately predicting the timing and location of food and water. This reliance makes migratory species particularly vulnerable to both past and present environmental changes. Consequently, 80 percent of extinct ungulates were likely migrators according to the new analysis.
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