IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-59271-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Marine megavertebrate migrations connect the global ocean

Author

Listed:
  • Lily K. Bentley

    (The University of Queensland
    The University of Queensland)

  • Dina Nisthar

    (The University of Queensland
    The University of Queensland)

  • Ei Fujioka

    (Duke University)

  • Corrie Curtice

    (Duke University)

  • Sarah E. DeLand

    (Duke University)

  • Ben Donnelly

    (Duke University)

  • Autumn-Lynn Harrison

    (Migratory Bird Center)

  • Ellie I. Heywood

    (Duke University)

  • Connie Y. Kot

    (Duke University)

  • Guillermo Ortuño Crespo

    (Duke University)

  • Sarah Poulin

    (Duke University)

  • Patrick N. Halpin

    (Duke University)

  • Daniel C. Dunn

    (The University of Queensland
    The University of Queensland)

Abstract

Animal migrations are extensive, ubiquitous, and in decline. To effectively protect migratory species, it is often crucial to identify the interconnected sets of sites they rely upon. Gaps between primary ecological research and synthesised information that is useful to policymakers has limited effective conservation of long-distance migrants, particularly in the marine realm. By synthesising 1304 references to identify 1787 sites and develop model migratory networks for 109 species, we show the minimum extent of marine megafauna connectivity across the global oceans. Our analyses underscore the importance of transboundary cooperation for migratory species conservation at scales larger than current regional structures afford and provide a free online system that will enable policymakers to efficiently summarise how marine migrants use and connect their jurisdictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Lily K. Bentley & Dina Nisthar & Ei Fujioka & Corrie Curtice & Sarah E. DeLand & Ben Donnelly & Autumn-Lynn Harrison & Ellie I. Heywood & Connie Y. Kot & Guillermo Ortuño Crespo & Sarah Poulin & Patri, 2025. "Marine megavertebrate migrations connect the global ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59271-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59271-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59271-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-59271-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dominique G Roche & Loeske E. B Kruuk, 2015. "Public Data Archiving in Ecology and Evolution: How Well are We Doing?," Working Papers id:7811, eSocialSciences.
    2. Christian Rutz, 2022. "Register animal-tracking tags to boost conservation," Nature, Nature, vol. 609(7926), pages 221-221, September.
    3. Christiaan Both & Sandra Bouwhuis & C. M. Lessells & Marcel E. Visser, 2006. "Climate change and population declines in a long-distance migratory bird," Nature, Nature, vol. 441(7089), pages 81-83, May.
    4. Dominique G Roche & Loeske E B Kruuk & Robert Lanfear & Sandra A Binning, 2015. "Public Data Archiving in Ecology and Evolution: How Well Are We Doing?," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-12, November.
    5. David S Wilcove & Martin Wikelski, 2008. "Going, Going, Gone: Is Animal Migration Disappearing," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-4, July.
    6. Isaac Brito-Morales & David S. Schoeman & Jason D. Everett & Carissa J. Klein & Daniel C. Dunn & Jorge García Molinos & Michael T. Burrows & Kristine Camille V. Buenafe & Rosa Mar Dominguez & Hugh P. , 2022. "Towards climate-smart, three-dimensional protected areas for biodiversity conservation in the high seas," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(4), pages 402-407, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Josip Strcic & Antonia Civljak & Terezija Glozinic & Rafael Leite Pacheco & Tonci Brkovic & Livia Puljak, 2022. "Open data and data sharing in articles about COVID-19 published in preprint servers medRxiv and bioRxiv," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(5), pages 2791-2802, May.
    2. Aagaard, Kevin J. & Thogmartin, Wayne E. & Lonsdorf, Eric V., 2018. "Temperature-influenced energetics model for migrating waterfowl," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 378(C), pages 46-58.
    3. Malika Ihle & Isabel S. Winney & Anna Krystalli & Michael Croucher, 2017. "Striving for transparent and credible research: practical guidelines for behavioral ecologists," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 28(2), pages 348-354.
    4. Joshua D. Carrell & Edward Hammill & Thomas C. Edwards, 2022. "Balancing Rare Species Conservation with Extractive Industries," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, November.
    5. Mike Thelwall & Marcus Munafò & Amalia Mas-Bleda & Emma Stuart & Meiko Makita & Verena Weigert & Chris Keene & Nushrat Khan & Katie Drax & Kayvan Kousha, 2020. "Is useful research data usually shared? An investigation of genome-wide association study summary statistics," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-11, February.
    6. Hannah Fraser & Tim Parker & Shinichi Nakagawa & Ashley Barnett & Fiona Fidler, 2018. "Questionable research practices in ecology and evolution," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, July.
    7. Lloyd W. Morrison & Craig C. Young, 2016. "Standardization and Quality Control in Data Collection and Assessment of Threatened Plant Species," Data, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Brian Jackson, 2021. "Open Data Policies among Library and Information Science Journals," Publications, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-12, June.
    9. Anne Goodenough & Adam Hart, 2013. "Correlates of vulnerability to climate-induced distribution changes in European avifauna: habitat, migration and endemism," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 659-669, June.
    10. Campos, Daniel & Llebot, Josep E. & Méndez, Vicenç, 2008. "Limited resources and evolutionary learning may help to understand the mistimed reproduction in birds caused by climate change," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 74(1), pages 16-21.
    11. Donohue, John G. & Piiroinen, Petri T., 2015. "Mathematical modelling of seasonal migration with applications to climate change," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 299(C), pages 79-94.
    12. Sachin Kumar & Tejdeep Kaur Kler & Gurkirat Singh Sekhon & Tanvi Sahni, 2024. "Impacts on avian migratory patterns due to climate change and hormonal disruption: a review," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 29(7), pages 1-23, October.
    13. Gheorghe-Gavrilă Hognogi & Ana-Maria Pop, 2024. "Something old, new, and borrowed. Rise of the systematic reviews," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 129(9), pages 5797-5803, September.
    14. Genki Ichinose & Masaya Saito & Shinsuke Suzuki, 2013. "Collective Chasing Behavior between Cooperators and Defectors in the Spatial Prisoner’s Dilemma," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(7), pages 1-10, July.
    15. Haefele, Michelle A. & Loomis, John B. & Lien, Aaron M. & Dubovsky, James A. & Merideth, Robert W. & Bagstad, Kenneth J. & Huang, Ta-Ken & Mattsson, Brady J. & Semmens, Darius J. & Thogmartin, Wayne E, 2019. "Multi-country Willingness to Pay for Transborder Migratory Species Conservation: A Case Study of Northern Pintails," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 321-331.
    16. Troels Gregersen & Timm A Wild & Linnea Worsøe Havmøller & Peter Rask Møller & Torben Anker Lenau & Martin Wikelski & Rasmus Worsøe Havmøller, 2023. "A novel kinetic energy harvesting system for lifetime deployments of wildlife trackers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(5), pages 1-20, May.
    17. Amintas Brandão Jr. & Lisa Rausch & América Paz Durán & Ciniro Costa Jr. & Seth A. Spawn & Holly K. Gibbs, 2020. "Estimating the Potential for Conservation and Farming in the Amazon and Cerrado under Four Policy Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-22, February.
    18. Smith, Phoebe & Guiver, Chris & Adams, Ben, 2022. "Quantifying the per-capita contribution of all components of a migratory cycle: A modelling framework," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 471(C).
    19. N. Rodenhouse & S. Matthews & K. McFarland & J. Lambert & L. Iverson & A. Prasad & T. Sillett & R. Holmes, 2008. "Potential effects of climate change on birds of the Northeast," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 13(5), pages 517-540, June.
    20. Jaroslav Koleček & Peter Adamík & Jiří Reif, 2020. "Shifts in migration phenology under climate change: temperature vs. abundance effects in birds," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 159(2), pages 177-194, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59271-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.