Dispersal evolution can only rescue a limited set of species from climate change

LAY SUMMARY Global biodiversity is under threat from climate change. A key process for understanding species’ responses to climate change is dispersal: the movement of an individual to reproduce somewhere other than its birthplace. Dispersal allows species to shift their range to more suitable habitats when conditions change. In addition, dispersal can evolve rapidly, especially during such range shifts. Here, we explore whether rapid dispersal evolution can save species from climate change. We identify a small set of cases in which this is theoretically possible. Our results outline general characteristics of species and their environments that make such rescue possible and therefore aid both with our fundamental understanding and applied conservation measures.