Review
Human-Mediated Dispersal and the Rewiring of Spatial Networks

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2018.09.008Get rights and content
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Highlights

Research into human impacts on biodiversity would benefit from considering HMD as a central process, in particular the wide variety of anthropogenic influences on the dispersal of organisms.

Particular species or genotypes benefit from increased dispersal ability under HMD, including new linkages among areas of suitable habitat; conversely, others suffer from loss of dispersal opportunities and linkages, as well as increased costs.

In total, HMD is expected to rewire spatial networks through the reconfiguration of links among nodes, particularly by changing the distances over which individuals disperse and the creation of highly connected nodes (hubs).

As human impacts on the environment increase, ecology and conservation will benefit from considering rewiring holistically, assessing both the positive and negative impacts of HMD on eco-evolutionary dynamics.

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.

Keywords

eco-evolutionary dynamics
green infrastructure
habitat fragmentation
human-altered dispersal
human-vectored dispersal
non-native species

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