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Related Concept Videos

Distribution and Dispersion00:54

Distribution and Dispersion

Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with their environment and with one another. An important aspect of ecology is understanding where species are found and how individuals are distributed within those areas. The geographic range of a species refers to the total area where its members are located, while dispersion describes the pattern of spacing of individuals within that range.Geographic Range and Dispersion PatternsWithin a species’ geographic range, individuals may be distributed...
Range00:59

Range

The range is one of the measures of variation. It can be defined as the difference between a dataset's highest and lowest values. For example, in the study of seven 16-ounce soda cans, the filled volume of soda was measured, thus producing the following amount (in ounces) of soda:
15.9; 16.1; 15.2; 14.8; 15.8; 15.9; 16.0; 15.5
Measurements of the amount of soda in a 16-ounce can vary since different subjects record these measurements or since the exact amount - 16 ounces of liquid, was not...
Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
Ecological Niches02:02

Ecological Niches

All organisms have a position within an ecosystem. The complete set of living and nonliving factors—including food resources, climate, and terrain—that define the position of a given organism are collectively referred to as the organism’s ecological niche.Multiple species cannot occupy the exact same niche within their habitat. If the niches of two or more species overlap to a large extent, the competitive exclusion principle dictates that one species will outcompete the other, forcing it to...
Gene Flow02:39

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems
07:41

Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems

Published on: July 30, 2019

The relationship between dispersal ability and geographic range size.

Sarah E Lester1, Benjamin I Ruttenberg, Steven D Gaines

  • 1Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9610, USA. slester@ucsc.edu

Ecology Letters
|June 28, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Species dispersal ability does not generally determine geographical range size. While dispersal can influence species distributions in specific situations, other ecological factors are often more significant.

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Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

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Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius Ludovicianus) Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern
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Experimental Manipulation of Body Size to Estimate Morphological Scaling Relationships in Drosophila
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Published on: October 1, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biogeography

Background:

  • Species' geographical range size varies, with dispersal ability often cited as a key explanation.
  • The relationship between dispersal and range size lacks robust theoretical and empirical support, yielding conflicting conclusions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reconcile conflicting findings on dispersal's role in range size.
  • To comprehensively evaluate the mechanistic theories linking dispersal and range size.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesized quantitative dispersal data across diverse marine taxa.
  • Examined dispersal-range size relationships across various spatial scales, regions, and taxonomic groups.

Main Results:

  • Dispersal ability is not a universal determinant of geographical range size.
  • Dispersal can significantly impact range size under specific ecological circumstances.

Conclusions:

  • While dispersal is a factor in species distributions, its influence on range size is context-dependent.
  • Other ecological and evolutionary processes warrant greater investigation for explaining range size variation.