InsectMigration | Understanding insect migration behaviour and pathways using individual tracking and radar

Summary
Migration involves the seasonal movement of large numbers of animals, usually due to shifts in resource availability. Migrants connect habitats and populations, and have significant effects on ecosystem processes. Insects are the most diverse and abundant group of terrestrial migrants, but in comparison to vertebrates, insect migration is poorly studied. In particular, we have little knowledge regarding the migratory pathways of insects, and their flight behaviour and orientation in relation to topographic barriers. Using a combination of state-of-the-art techniques, individual tracking and vertically-looking radar, I aim to identify migratory routes of insects in Europe, and investigate migratory behaviour in relation to topography. This action will be the first to track migrating insects in Europe using individual-based tracking. This unique combination of methods will provide insight into the migratory behaviour of insects at landscape and local scale and provide us with an unprecedented level of information regarding the mechanisms underlying insect migration.

The objectives of the work packages in this project are:
WP 1: To investigate the influence of radio-transmitters on the flight behaviour of hawk moths in the laboratory. To investigate space-use and flight behaviour of hawk moths in the field.

WP2: To elucidate migratory pathways of insects across Europe using individual tracking, and to understand migratory flight and orientation behaviour in relation to topography along these routes. We will also investigate which factors influence individual departure decisions and stopovers en route.

WP 3: To investigate flight behaviour and orientation of hawk hawk moths in relation to weather and topography using vertically-looking radar, at key migration bottlenecks, high altitude passes in the southern Alps.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/795568
Start date: 01-02-2019
End date: 28-02-2021
Total budget - Public funding: 159 460,80 Euro - 159 460,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

Migration involves the seasonal movement of large numbers of animals, usually due to shifts in resource availability. Migrants connect habitats and populations, and have significant effects on ecosystem processes. Insects are the most diverse and abundant group of terrestrial migrants, but in comparison to vertebrates, insect migration is poorly studied. In particular, we have little knowledge regarding the migratory pathways of insects, and their flight behaviour and orientation in relation to topographic barriers. Using a combination of state-of-the-art techniques, individual tracking and vertically-looking radar, I aim to identify migratory routes of insects in Europe, and investigate migratory behaviour in relation to topography. This action will be the first to track migrating insects in Europe using individual-based tracking. This unique combination of methods will provide insight into the migratory behaviour of insects at landscape and local scale and provide us with an unprecedented level of information regarding the mechanisms underlying insect migration.

The objectives of the work packages in this project are:
WP 1: To investigate the influence of radio-transmitters on the flight behaviour of hawk moths in the laboratory. To investigate space-use and flight behaviour of hawk moths in the field.

WP2: To elucidate migratory pathways of insects across Europe using individual tracking, and to understand migratory flight and orientation behaviour in relation to topography along these routes. We will also investigate which factors influence individual departure decisions and stopovers en route.

WP 3: To investigate flight behaviour and orientation of hawk hawk moths in relation to weather and topography using vertically-looking radar, at key migration bottlenecks, high altitude passes in the southern Alps.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2017

Update Date

28-04-2024
Geographical location(s)
Structured mapping
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EU-Programme-Call
Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2017
MSCA-IF-2017