Migratory species are more likely to suffer habitat loss. Are they logical candidates for extinction?

Question

with TWO ecosystems to call home, the odds that ONE of them is under pressure is doubled. does this mean that migratory species would be among the most logical candidates for extinction? is this in fact the case?

any examples to prove or disprove are welcome, thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Sure.  The best example is migratory birds.  Dozens of species are endangered or already extinct because of logging in Central and South America and loss of wetlands in North America.

Answer 2

Yes...migratory birds are MUCH more likely to become extinct.  While their breeding grounds may be protected here in the US and other countries...their wintering grounds may not be protected..so the loss of one of the other can cause the species to decline drastically.  I study the endangered Least Bell's Vireo...and while we keep close tabs on them here during the spring breeding season and protect their habitat, they winter in Mexico where their habitat is not protected, and where no one keeps tabs on them.

Answer 3

It's not two habitats, it's actually more.  Most species require stopover points in between their breeding and wintering destinations.

But that said, it doesn't make them "logical" candidates for extinction.  It necessitates international coordination and land management between Canada, the United States, Mexico and even Central and South America.  Some species are better equiped to adapt to habitat loss and degradation than others.  Bird and mammal species fare better because they're more visible & more research is done.  Amphibians are catching up because they're now considered "indicator" species to assess environmental impacts upon people.  Insects, however, may suffer greater rates of extinction, and this could spill over and cause a ripple effect that combined with habitat loss puts additional species over the edge.

I've learned a lot about California Condors, Least Terns, Clapper Rail and other species of concern such as Coast Cactus Wren and the California Gnatcatcher.  Management is tough, but if there's money for research and study to give good information to the land managers, we may be able to pull some species through or at least keep them on the planet decades longer.

Bottom line, preserve habitat north and south of U.S. borders and we can slow the rate of extinction.

Answer 4

Yeah. most birds when on the move usually get shot down by hunters, other animals find poison and they die. Fish, whales, dolphins, and sharks get entangled in nets and other things that pollute the water. The worst is oil spills and chemical spill into the water. Animals moving out would drink this water and get sick and die. Same with fishes. Other wildlife get stuck in some major oil spills, become cold and almost unsavable.