Movement

Location is crucial in the life of an animal; in this chapter we cover the mechanisms used by animals to find food, shelter, mates, and the right microclimate. Animals may find good habitat by moving randomly, but more often movements are oriented to external stimuli. After determining the location of a stimulus, an animal moves toward that stimulus if it is attractive, or away from it if it is repulsive. Compass orientation gives animals the ability to move at an angle with respect to the location of the sun, moon, stars, or the earth’s magnetic field; homing and migration typically depend on compass orientation. In addition, path integration is important to many animals. When using path integration, an animal calculates an efficient route to its nest or den based on its outward journey. Migration allows animals to find seasonally appropriate habitats but requires complex navigation that can span thousands of kilometers.