Heterogeneous dispersal networks to improve biodiversity science

Dispersal plays a key role in shaping spatial patterns of biodiversity, yet its spatial heterogeneity is often overlooked in biodiversity analyses and management strategies. Properly parametrized heterogeneous dispersal networks capture the complex interplay between landscape structure and species-specific dispersal capacities. This heterogeneity, however, is recurrently neglected when studying the processes underlying biodiversity variation. To address this limitation, we present a conceptual framework outlining the primary processes driving dispersal heterogeneity and its influence on biodiversity. We propose approaches to parametrize heterogeneous dispersal networks that can be seamlessly integrated into widely used quantitative frameworks for biodiversity analyses. By considering the architecture of heterogeneous dispersal networks, we demonstrate how they can inform management strategies aimed at optimising biodiversity conservation.