Does size matter for dispersal distance?

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study is to answer the questions: (1) do small organisms disperse farther than large, or vice versa; and (2) does the observed pattern differ for passive and active dispersers? These questions are central to several themes in biogeography (including microbial biogeography), macroecology, metacommunity ecology and conservation biology.Location The meta-analysis was conducted using published data collected worldwide. MethodsWe collected and analysed 795 data values in the peer-reviewed literature for direct observations of both maximal dispersal distance and mass of the dispersing organisms (e.g. seeds, not trees). Analysed taxa ranged in size from bacteria to whales. We applied macroecology analyses based on null models (using Monte Carlo randomizations) to test patterns relative to specific hypotheses. ResultsCollected dispersal distance and mass data spanned 9 and 21 orders of magnitude, respectively. Active dispersers dispersed significantly farther ( P < 0.001) and were significantly greater in mass ( P < 0.001) than passive dispersers. Overall, size matters: larger active dispersers attained greater maximum observed dispersal distances than smaller active dispersers. In contrast, passive-disperser distances were random with respect to propagule mass, but not uniformly random, in part due to sparse data available for tiny propagules. ConclusionsSize is important to maximal dispersal distance for active dispersers, but not for passive dispersers. Claims that microbes disperse widely cannot be tested by current data based on direct observations of dispersal: indirect approaches will need to be applied. Distance-mass relationships should contribute to a resolution of neutral and niche-based metacommunity theories by helping scale expectations for dispersal limitation. Also, distance-mass relationships should inform analyses of latitudinal species richness and conservation biology topics such as fragmentation, umbrella species and taxonomic homogenization.

Metacommunity dynamics of amphibians in years with differing rainfall

“…We found a negative tendency between the pure spatial effect and body size. Our results support the general theory that in actively dispersing taxa, larger species should be less dispersal limited (Jenkins et al 2007). Additionally, we found a positive relationship between the pure local effect and body size, implying that larger species can find suitable habitat patches much easier than smaller species.…”

“…In actively dispersing taxa, dispersal abilities are thought to improve with body size, contributing to less dispersal limitation (Jenkins et al 2007;Shurin et al 2009). However, no study has tried so far to quantify the effect of species traits on the spatial structure of amphibian communities.…”

How do freshwater organisms cross the “dry ocean”? A review on passive dispersal and colonization processes with a special focus on temporary ponds

“…might reach Sicily and Balearic Islands from the Maghreb, while smaller ones (&100 lm), such as those of calanoid copepods, might be transported further north and reach central Italy, Corsica and southern France. However, this hypothesis is not supported by a metaanalysis aimed at investigating the role of the size of the dispersing stages in determining the achievable dispersal distances in active and passive disperser: according to Jenkins et al (2007), passively dispersed propagules are less efficient on long distance than active disperser, and their dispersal distances do not depend on the propagule mass.…”

Advances, challenges and a developing synthesis of ecological community assembly theory

“…In addition, the scale at which an organism forages for resources is dependent on body size and traits associated with motility and vagility. Therefore, the relative importance of regional versus local processes may differ among taxa in a somewhat predictable way [111].…”