What role do migratory species play in relation to global biodiversity?
Migratory species of wild animals represent only a fraction of the total biodiversity, yet they are a very significant portion of the world’s genetic resources. They have evolved in intricate interrelationships, in many cases still to be fully understood, with resident plant and other animal species. They also play a unique role as indicators for the interdependence of and linkages between ecosystems and for ecological change. And they are, most of all, vulnerable as a result of their long migrations, which involve many risks.
