Fig. 6

Conceptual diagram showing a range of dynamic (disturbances, successional grassland, forest gaps) and static (rocky outcrops, forests) habitats across gradients in inter-patch distance and patch size. In static, but patchy habitats, short-distance dispersal (μ > 3) dominates dispersal strategies. Extreme long-distance dispersal (μ → 1) is favoured in both stable, continuous habitats or in extremely unpredictable and dynamic landscapes. In patchy and dynamic habitats, Lévy-like, multi-scale dispersal strategies are optimal, with μ correlated to average patch size, inter-patch distance and, most importantly, patch turnover rate. Species examples are given; data from ¹Colas et al. 1997 [60], ²Bakker 1961 [61], ³Soons et al. 2005 [62], ⁴Alvarez -Buylla & Martinez-Ramos 1990 [63], ⁵Katul et al. 2005 [64], ⁶Nathan et al. 2002 [65]