RCN: Migration Interest Group: Research Applied Toward Education (MIGRATE)

测量和描述个体和种群的运动模式是理解任何动物的生理、行为、生态和生活史的一个基本方面。测量运动还可以为预测物种灭绝、入侵或疾病传播提供关键。然而，长期以来，我们在远距离、跨时间追踪动物活动的能力上一直受到限制。事实证明，对人类观察者来说，跟踪单个动物一直是一项挑战。研究人员必须依靠技术创新来扩展我们测量和描述运动的能力。最近分子、化学、电子和遥感技术的快速发展为跟踪个体和整个种群创造了新的工具，并为生态学家开辟了新的领域，使我们能够实时跟踪像候鸟这样的小型、高度移动的动物。迁徙研究协调网络（RCN）将把那些在新兴技术开发和应用方面处于领先地位的研究人员聚集在一起，目的是研究迁徙鸣禽的惊人长距离运动。陆鸟的长途迁徙是应用新技术的理想系统，既能提高技术水平，也能提高我们描述迁徙策略的能力。为了加速这些领域的进展，MIGRATE网络将：(1)将研究技术和问题集中在一小组模式物种上，这将促进对远距离迁移的生态和进化意义的理解；(2)促进美洲和欧洲研究人员之间的跨学科合作；(3)鼓励组织、技术进步和数据的标准化收集和共享；(4)为学生和公众创造一个跨学科培训的平台。此外，通过研究新兴技术（如分子、电子、遥感）和生态学的联系，这个网络将使目前活跃的研究人员能够让来自科学领域代表性不足的群体的学生参与新的研究项目。将新兴的内在和外在跟踪技术应用于生态学中的新问题，将改进技术本身。MIGRATE所促进的严谨研究将提高我们识别种群水平DNA来源、稳定同位素比率和微量元素的能力。分子标记应用的进步将在广泛的学科领域得到应用，如识别生物恐怖主义的来源，成分纯度的商业测试，以及确定引进外来物种的来源。MIGRATE将允许学生访问最新的发展，使现场科学家了解最先进的技术进步，并为不同国家的工业和现场生态学家提供接口。在卫生和经济领域，移徙的结果可用于了解和控制通过动物运动传播的疾病。此外，追踪单个候鸟和确定种群的能力将立即应用于保护规划。对迁徙生态学的全面和综合的了解将使有限的保护资源得到更有效的利用，并为科学家提供利用候鸟监测全球气候变化的生态反应的能力。这个网络将汇集一套不同的方法，促进研究人员在多国、洲际范围内的交流。

Measuring and describing patterns of individual and population movement is a fundamental aspect of understanding the physiology, behavior, ecology and life-history of any animal. Measuring movement also can provide the key to predicting species extinctions and invasions or the spread of disease. Yet, we have long been limited in our abilities to track animal movements over large distances and across time. Following individual animals has always proven challenging for human observers. Researchers must rely on technological innovations to expand our abilities to measure and describe movement. Recent rapid advances in molecular, chemical, electrical, and remote-sensing technologies are creating new tools for tracking individuals and whole populations and opening new frontiers for ecologists by allowing us to follow small, highly mobile animals like migratory songbirds in real-time across continents. The MIGRATE Research Coordination Network (RCN) will bring together researchers who are pioneering the development and application of emerging technologies for the purpose of investigating the amazing long-distance movements of migratory songbirds.Long-distance landbird migration is an ideal system for applying new technologies in ways that advance both the technologies and our ability to describe movement strategies. To accelerate progress in these areas, the MIGRATE network will: (1) focus research techniques and questions on a small suite of model species that will advance understanding of ecological and evolutionary implications of long-distance movement; (2) foster cross-disciplinary collaborations among researchers throughout the Americas and Europe; (3) encourage standardized collection and sharing of tissues, technological advances, and data; and (4) create a platform for interdisciplinary training of students and the public. Additionally, by working at the nexus of emerging technologies (e.g., molecular, electrical, remote-sensing) and ecology, this network will provide allow currently active researchers to engage students from groups under-represented in the sciences in novel research projects. Application of emerging intrinsic and extrinsic tracking technologies to novel problems in ecology will improve the technologies themselves. The rigorous research fostered by MIGRATE will increase our ability to identify population-level sources of DNA, stable isotope ratios, and trace elements. Advances in use of molecular markers will have applications across a broad range of disciplines such as identifying sources of bio-terrorism, commercial testing of ingredient purity, and locating origins of introduced exotic species. MIGRATE will allow students to access the newest developments, make field scientists aware of state-of-the-art technology advancements, and provide an interface between industry and field ecologist in diverse countries. In areas of health and economics, the results of MIGRATE can be applied to understanding and controlling the spread of disease through animal movement. Moreover, the ability to track individual migrant birds and identify populations will have immediate applications for conservation planning. A complete and integrated understanding of migration ecology will allow for more effective use of limited conservation resources and provide scientists with the ability to use migratory birds to monitor ecological responses to global climate change. This network will bring together a diverse set of approaches, facilitating communication among researchers on a multinational, inter-continental scale.