Dispersal syndromes allow understanding but not predicting dispersal ability across the tree of life

Abstract

Dispersal is fundamental to many ecological and evolutionary processes, yet understanding the determinants and predictability of dispersal remains a crucial challenge. Dispersal syndromes, which describe patterns in the covariation of traits associated with dispersal, can help to gain a deeper understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of dispersal and its implications for range dynamics and ecosystem functioning in the face of global change. However, the extent to which such dispersal syndromes are generalizable across a large taxonomic scale has been hampered by low availability of standardized dispersal data across species. In this study, we used the most comprehensive and up-to-date empirical dispersal dataset for European birds to investigate the formation of dispersal syndromes and their effectiveness in predicting dispersal across species. We found body mass, feeding guild, and life-history traits shape dispersal syndromes in birds. Yet, only body mass and life history accurately predicted dispersal for unassessed species, while even multi-trait dispersal syndromes poorly predicted dispersal for phylogenetically distant species. These results shed light on the complex nature of bird dispersal and emphasize the need for refined approaches in elucidating the mechanisms and constraints underlying dispersal evolution. Our study highlights the importance of considering multiple factors and expanding empirical datasets to enhance our understanding of dispersal in avian populations.