Human-Mediated Dispersal and the Rewiring of Spatial Networks

Author(s)

Bullock, James M. ^[1] ; Bonte, Dries ^[2] ; Pufal, Gesine ^[3] ; Carvalho, Carolina da Silva ^[4] ; Chapman, Daniel S. ^[5] ; Garcia, Cristina ^{[6, 7]} ; Garcia, Daniel ^{[8, 9]} ; Matthysen, Erik ; Mar Delgado, Maria ^{[8, 9]}

Affiliation

^[1] Ctr Ecol & Hydrol, Wallingford, Oxon - England

^[2] Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, Ghent - Belgium

^[3] Univ Freiburg, Dept Nat Conservat & Landscape Ecol, Freiburg - Germany

^[4] Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Ecol, Inst Biosci, Rio Claro - Brazil

^[5] Ctr Ecol & Hydrol, Edinburgh, Midlothian - Scotland

^[6] Univ Porto, Ctr Res Biodivers & Genet Resources, Porto - Portugal

^[7] Univ Liverpool, Inst Integrat Biol, Dept Evolut Ecol & Behav, Liverpool, Merseyside - England

^[8] Univ Oviedo, Dept Biol Organisms & Syst, Oviedo - Spain

^[9] Univ Oviedo, Biodivers Res Unit, Oviedo - Spain

• Document type: Review article
• Source: TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION; v. 33, n. 12, p. 958-970, DEC 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 7

Abstract

Humans fundamentally affect dispersal, directly by transporting individuals and indirectly by altering landscapes and natural vectors. This human-mediated dispersal (HMD) modifies long-distance dispersal, changes dispersal paths, and overall benefits certain species or genotypes while disadvantaging others. HMD is leading to radical changes in the structure and functioning of spatial networks, which are likely to intensify as human activities increase in scope and extent. Here, we provide an overview to guide research into HMD and the resulting rewiring of spatial networks, making predictions about the ecological and evolutionary consequences and how these vary according to spatial scale and the traits of species. Future research should consider HMD holistically, assessing the range of direct and indirect processes to understand the complex impacts on eco-evolutionary dynamics. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/22843-8 - Determinants of seed and gene dispersal of a tropical palm across defaunated and fragmentated landscapes
• Grantee: Carolina da Silva Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate