Migration Mapping, The Key To Climate Change Escape?

United States animal migration has begun. Animals and plants are migrating to an area with a suitable climate condition. However, human activity could delay these transitions. Researchers are finding ways by map to help species escape from the current condition.

The scientists found out that the migrations are impeded by roads, cities, and farms, which produces fragmented landscapes and presents challenges to migrating animals. Due to high temperatures, some species are hundreds of kilometres away from the suitable areas. Climate connectivity has a major role for facilitation of animal movements. A study by Jenny Mcguire, a spatial ecologist stated that the United States is denser and impacted by humans. Few areas are left for species to live through in the east.

US animal migrations were assessed by researchers and found an ice-free corridor that leads to the Rocky Mountains during the Pleistocene period. The connectivity was found to be completely open 13,000 years ago as revealed by radiocarbon dating from bison fossils, NH Voice reported. The discovered area is where first movements of humans southward from Alaska.

The opening of the corridor serves as new opportunities for animal relocation and the interaction between people living north and south. Human migration 13,000 years ago was from south to north most of the time, University of Santa Cruz California reported. People were bison hunters at that time and they followed the bisons as they moved into the corridor up north. The corridor closed after the glacial maximum. The ice sheets coalesced and the population were separated leaving a distinct southern lineage.

US animal migration is rapid as the species keep up with the climate change. McGuire added that the corridors are going to be one of the important tool to aid animal survival. Studies about animal movement were taken to avoid conflict with humans by determining various strategies.