How Ecological Characteristics of Seasonal Migratory Species Influence Conservation Threats and Policy Needs

Abstract

This article argues that effectively protecting migratory behavior and migratory species throughout their annual or life cycle habitats requires conservation policies that simultaneously consider the ecological, socioeconomic, and institutional characteristics of these species and their management. The article describes key aspects of migratory species' behavior and ecology, focusing on three specific features of these species. Additionally, it identifies data sources and information gaps that are important for policy development, then examines new tools and existing conservation policies through the lens of the three key features of migratory species—all of which raise the need for conservation coordination across space and time by multiple actors. Finally, it identifies conservation challenges by biodiversity threat and by type of migration medium, whether terrestrial, aquatic, or aerial.