Which statement correctly distinguishes migration from dispersal in mammals?

• A. Migration is seasonal, directed movement between habitats; dispersal is movement away from birthplace to breed or establish elsewhere.
• B. Migration is daily, within home range; dispersal is seasonal movement between habitats.
• C. Migration and dispersal mean the same thing.
• D. Both are forms of sedentary movement.

Answer: (A)

Understanding the difference between migration and dispersal hinges on purpose and timing of movement. Migration is a seasonal, directed journey between distinct habitats, often with a predictable pattern and sometimes a return to the original area. Dispersal, on the other hand, is the movement away from where an individual was born to establish a new breeding site elsewhere, typically occurring once or during a specific life stage to reduce competition or inbreeding.

In mammals, you’ll see migration when populations move between seasonal ranges in response to resources or climate, such as going to richer feeding grounds or breeding locations at particular times of year. Dispersal is exemplified when a juvenile leaves its birthplace to find a new territory or mate, after which it settles in a distant area.

So the statement that best captures this distinction is that migration is seasonal and directed movement between habitats, while dispersal is movement away from birthplace to breed or establish elsewhere. The other descriptions mix up timing and purpose, or describe movement as something it’s not (for example, daily routine within a home range or treating both processes as the same).