Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 4 Movement patterns of a female common brushtail possum before and after translocation
to an unfamiliar location, Muriwai, New Zealand, 2009. Blue points (lower left corner) represent
position fixes and trajectories made at 5-min intervals over c. 2 weeks by a GPS collar. Red points
indicate the movement pattern (again over c. 2 weeks) after translocation. Green dot depicts the
release location
drive humans and animals to fulfil one or more goals. This idea covers both
proximate and ultimate evolutionary benefits from movement, the degree to which
either approach is used depending on species and context. Some activities, such as
searching for food, escaping predators, following adults, or searching for mates
may indicate proximate payoffs which, in turn, suggest ultimate goals of gaining
energy, seeking safety, learning, or reproducing. The comparative importance of
different goals may vary over an animal's lifetime and over much shorter periods,
and individuals may pursue several goals simultaneously. Thus, the internal state
can consist of a multidimensional vector of many sub-states.
In terms of humans, internal state can be linked to factors such as desires,
confidence, anxiety, knowledge, motivation and needs, which encourage move-
ment. For example, people may decide to migrate from one place to another place
because the latter can better satisfy their needs (Roseman
1971
).
Motion capacity refers to an animal's ability to perform self-propelled (motile)
locomotion by various means. Ultimately, it is derived from biomechanical
properties which enable animals to move either by flying, crawling, walking,
