Work

Monitoring animal movement diversity as a component of biodiversity

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Animal movement is increasingly being quantified in novel ways, with high potential for integration in broad-scale efforts to monitor biological diversity. Here, we define movement diversity as a form of biodiversity measuring variation in animal movement from the level of individual animals to communities. We present a framework to develop a common language for movement diversity metrics which describes variation in movement patterns, as well as motion and navigation capacities, through both time and geographic space. Developing and using a common language for movement diversity metrics will expand the use of animal movement data in biodiversity monitoring to address the effects of global climate and land use change on movement diversity, and how movement diversity influences ecosystem functioning.

Source: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

DOI: 10.1002/fee.70038