Monday, June 13, 2011

Wildebeest Migration

Wildebeest are known for their annual migration to new pastures. Wildebeest usually begin their migration in the months of May or June when drought forces them to go on the move. However, if it is a particularly dry year, they may begin their migration earlier than usual because of the decrease in vegetation. The reason that the wildebeest is a migratory animal is because the grass that it feeds on is not a very good provider of energy and minerals, so it has to move around in order to get adequate nutrition. Factors that affect migration include food, water, predators, and also phosphorus level. Phosphorus is a crucial element that is necessary for all life forms, and it has been found that grass during the dry season has a very low phosphorus composition, and at an insufficient level for the wildebeest’s survival if it remained stationary.

Wildebeest herding and following a few leading zebra in the Masai Mara, Kenya.


As a result, the wildebeest migrates to other grazing areas to feed on grass that has higher phosphorus. A 1992 study by Ben-Shahar and Coe found that besides phosphorus, wildebeest also migrated to areas where the grass had higher nitrogen levels. Ecologists have found that the main reason that wildebeest migrate is to find high quality food during the whole year, although the reduction of predation is another positive benefit.

Also see this Video from National Geographic:
Wildebeest in the millions make their annual migration through East Africa.

21 comments:

  1. Hmm, I never would have guessed that phosphorus had anything to do with migration.

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  2. Stunning picture/video. It's interesting how usually very small changes in the ecosystem change their migration patters! keep up the good posts!

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  3. These videos and pictures are amazing. Nature really is just one big machine and all the parts move together.

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  4. Whoa that picture is amazing. Reminds me of those safari pics google earth did.

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  5. That's so cool, and a great picture.

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  6. Really interesting, I'm amazed by the nature everyday

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  7. Holy crap that was awesome. Thanks for writing this up.

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  8. That is simply amazing. Great post.

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  9. Danm, this is so fkn amazing!

    following!

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  10. A nice system they have there, survival of the fittest and all that.

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  11. woahhh never saw something like that

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  12. Awesome video! Very interesting.

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  13. It often seems the natural world is gone with the techno age we're in, it's good to see someone posting about these sorts of things to remind us all.

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  14. Wow, interesting! Never knew about the whole phosphorous thing!

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  15. That is amazing. There used to be herds of bison like that in America. The herds are coming back though.

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  16. That was a stunning vid mate, keep it up!

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  17. Wow that photograph is absolutely marvelous.

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  18. like a flock of birds... except on the ground haha....

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