A call for full annual cycle research in animal ecology

Abstract

For vertebrates, annual cycles are organized into a series of breeding and non-breeding periods that vary in duration and location but are inextricably linked biologically. Here, we show that our understanding of the fundamental ecology of four vertebrate classes has been limited by a severe breeding season research bias and that studies of individual and population-level responses to natural and anthropogenic change would benefit from a full annual cycle perspective. Recent emergence of new analytical and technological tools for studying individual and population-level animal movement could help reverse this bias. To improve understanding of species biology and reverse the population declines of many vertebrate species, a concerted effort to move beyond single season research is vital.

Keywords: annual cycle; research bias; seasonal interaction.

Figure 1.

Proportion of studies on four vertebrate orders conducted (a) during each period of the annual cycle: breeding, in transit (i.e. migration or a similar seasonal movement between breeding and non-breeding), or stationary non-breeding, (b) during one annual cycle period, more than one, or year-round, and (c) examining a seasonal interaction.

Figure 2.

Change in annual proportion of studies published from 1994 to 2012 that included research during the breeding period, during the stationary non-breeding period or year-round, or that included seasonal interactions.