our mission

Long-distance animal migrations are among the most spectacular phenomena on earth, from the great wildebeest migrations on the Serengeti Plains to the long-ranging movements of blue whales. All movement, even the daily forays of bees or the wind dispersal of seed plants, is a critical and essential process of life. Yet, our knowledge about movement and the processes that regulate it, only begin to scratch the surface. We aim to advance the understanding of how all living things, big and small, move across changing land and seascapes to better sustain a biodiverse planet.

what we do

We are deeply committed to sustaining biodiversity and functioning ecological systems.  Through the use of novel tracking technologies, including acoustic tags, GPS collars, geolocators, and proximity data loggers, we investigate how animals move through space, often traveling thousands of miles to access critical resources.  We aim to answer critical questions about the causes and consequences of movement, to discover unknown migration routes, and to understand how animals respond to natural and human disturbance. 

who we are

Located across three Smithsonian research centers, our core group of researchers is comprised of marine, terrestrial, and avian ecologists. For additional information or comments, please contact the Movement of Life Program Coordinator.

in the news