Insights into post-fledging dispersal of Bearded Vultures Gypaetus barbatus in southern Africa from GPS satellite telemetry

Capsule: Fledglings progressively increase their home range size and ranging behaviour as they age.

Aims: To examine the home range size and ranging behaviour of Bearded Vulture fledglings during the post-fledging dependence period and determine the onset of natal dispersal.

Methods: Post-fledging movements of three individuals were investigated in southern Africa using global positioning system (GPS) satellite telemetry which enabled home range sizes and distances travelled from the nest to be calculated.

Results: Fledglings increased their home range size from an average of 0.4–10 999?km² (100% Minimum Convex Polygons) and 9.13–11 466?km² (fixed 95% kernels) within the first six months post fledging. They also increased home range use as they aged with maximum daily distances travelled from the nest occurring between 98 and 136 days post fledging (when fledglings were aged between 222 and 262 days), after which time they dispersed from their natal area. Distances between fixes were highest during the dispersal period.

Conclusion: GPS satellite telemetry allows us to accurately demonstrate how fledglings progressively increase and use their home ranges as they age and undertake pre-dispersive exploratory flights. Results confirm the notion that juveniles disperse at the onset of the following breeding season and suggest that dispersal occurs earlier in the southern hemisphere.     

The interaction of dispersal and control methods for the riverine tsetse fly Glossina palpalis gambiensis (Diptera: Glossinidae): a modelling study

We used a spatial model of a riverine tsetse fly species Glossina palpalis gambiensis life cycle to investigate the interaction between their dispersal and three control methods and to document these interactions using sensitivity analyses. The model is currently limited to gallery forest habitat inhabited by Glossina palpalis gambiensis in the dry season in the sub-humid zone of West Africa. The control methods modelled were traps and targets (TT), insecticide-treated livestock (ITL), and the sterile insect technique (SIT). Both distance dispersed (up to 800 m) and percent of flies dispersing each day (up to 60 %) increased the efficiency of control by TT. Most of this increase occurred for low values of both distance dispersed and percent dispersing, but the increase continued up to the limits tried. The daily movement of cattle assisted the control program and when movement was considerable (up to 600 m daily) the effects were greater than the effects of tsetse dispersal. Random dispersal decreased aggregation and equilibrium population size, and thus also increased the efficiency of SIT. Dispersal that was mostly oriented towards clumps was of much less value for SIT but acted on TT and ITL similarly to random dispersal.     

Spatio-temporal movement patterns of Diplodus vulgaris (Actinopterygii, Sparidae) in a temperate marine reserve (Lampedusa, Mediterranean Sea)

The movements of a commercially important species, Diplodus vulgaris, were assessed in a marine-protected area to test whether their spatial and temporal activity patterns differ during and outside of their spawning season. Twelve adults were caught along the north-eastern coast of a small Mediterranean island, tagged with acoustic transmitters and released within or just outside the integral reserve. Fish detected, during both the seasons showed strong fidelity for the study area before and during the spawning season and their home range did not differ between seasons. Home ranges reached an asymptote between 12 and 174 days after release. Home range estimated by kernel utilization distributions ranged from 9,876 to 89,914 m², with core areas of 946 to 7,274 m². Temporal patterns frequently showed a dominant diel rhythm with most of detections occurring at daytime, independently of season. The variability in the movement patterns of D. vulgaris was lower between seasons (i.e., during and outside the spawning season) than at smaller temporal scale (i.e., between day and night) and was largely affected by inter-individual differences. Some conclusions arising from this and previous findings are useful to orient future studies on coastal fish movement and have direct implications for MPAs design.     

A one night stand? Reproductive excursions of female roe deer as a breeding dispersal tactic

Breeding dispersal, defined as the net movement between successive breeding sites, remains a poorly understood and seldom reported phenomenon in mammals, despite its importance for population dynamics and genetics. In large herbivores, females may be more mobile during the breeding season, undertaking short-term trips (excursions) outside their normal home range. If fertilisation occurs, leading to gene flow of the male genome, this behaviour could be considered a form of breeding dispersal from a genetic point of view. Here, we investigated ranging behaviour of 235 adult roe deer using intensive GPS monitoring in six populations across Europe within the EURODEER initiative. We show that excursions are common from June to August among females, with 41.8 % (vs. 18.1 % of males) making at least one excursion. Most individuals performed only one excursion per season and departure dates for females were concentrated in time, centred on the rutting period, suggesting a link with reproduction. The distance females travelled during excursions was significantly greater than the site-specific average diameter of a male home range, while travel speed decreased once they progressed beyond this diameter, indicating search behaviour or interaction with other male(s) outside the resident male’s territory. Because adults are normally highly sedentary, the potential for mating with relatives is substantial; hence, we conclude that rut excursions could be an alternative tactic enabling females to avoid mating with a closely related male. To understand better the ultimate drivers at play, it will be crucial to explore the genetic causes and consequences of this behaviour.     

Dispersal traits may reflect dispersal distances,but dispersers may not connect populations demographically

Ecological traits that reflect movement potential are often used as proxies for measured dispersal distances. Whether such traits reflect actual dispersal is often untested. Such tests are important because maximum dispersal distances may not be achieved and many dispersal events may be unsuccessful (without reproduction). For insects, many habitat patches harbour ‘resident’ species that are present as larvae (sedentary) and adults (winged and dispersing), and ‘itinerant’ species present only as adults that have dispersed from elsewhere and fail to reproduce. We tested whether itinerancy patterns were temporally consistent, and whether itinerant and resident species differed in wing morphology, a strong correlate of flight capability. Over 3 years and at multiple locations in a 22 km stream length, we sampled larvae and adults of caddisflies in the genus Ecnomus to categorize species as residents or itinerants. Flight capacity was measured using wing size (length and area) and shape parameters (aspect ratio and the second moment of wing area). Three species of Ecnomus were residents and three species were itinerants, and patterns were consistent over 3 years. On average, itinerant species had larger wings, suggesting a greater capacity to fly long distances. Wing shape differed between species, but did not differ systematically between residents and itinerants. Wing morphology was associated with actual but not effective dispersal of some species of Ecnomus. Morphological traits may have weak explanatory power for hypotheses regarding the demographic connectedness of populations, unless accompanied by data demonstrating which dispersers contribute new individuals to populations.     

Potential seed dispersal distances of native and non-native fleshy fruiting shrubs in the South African Mediterranean climate region

Bird flight distances for the small Zosterops capensis, the medium-size Pycnonotus capensis and the large Colius striatus were extracted from these birds’ initial ring and subsequent recapture locations and expressed on equivalent per km bases. The products of the bird-ring recapture records in nine different flight distance categories and daily consumption rates by these birds of seeds of two native (Chrysanthemoides monilifera and Olea europaea spp. africana) and two alien (Lantana camara and Solanum mauritianum) shrubs were used to construct seed dispersal curves. The dispersal distances to which ingested seeds were theoretically restricted were computed from the product of the retention time of seed in the birds’ guts and their flight speeds using published functions. All three bird species displayed thin long-tailed seed dispersal curves characterized by peaks at distances below 1 km which declined progressively with increasing distances, the tails extending to distances of up to 400 km. Flight distances corresponding with predicted seed gut retention times were 9.4 km in the small Z. capensis, 17.8 km in the medium size P. capensis and 21.2 km in the large C. striatus. These potential seed dispersal distances were much greater that the frequently reported long distance seed dispersal threshold of 1 km by frugivorous birds in fragmented landscapes.     

Have your cake and eat it too: greater dispersal ability and faster germination towards range edges of an invasive plant species in eastern Australia

The process of range expansion often selects for traits that maximize invasion success at range edges. For example, during range expansion, individuals with greater dispersal and colonization ability will be selected for towards range edges. For wind dispersed plants, however, there exists a fundamental trade-off between dispersal and colonization ability (germination success and growth) that is mediated by seed size; smaller seeds often have greater dispersal ability but poorer colonization ability. We investigated the nature of the dispersal/colonization trade-off by comparing dispersal ability (wing loading ratio: seed mass/wing area), germination success and growth related traits across multiple populations of a coastal exotic invasive plant species (Gladiolus gueinzii Kunze) along its entire introduced distribution in eastern Australia. We found that G. gueinzii had significantly greater dispersal ability towards its range edges which was mediated by a decrease in seed mass. However, this was not associated with a decrease in probability of germination or growth after 3 months. In fact, seeds from range edge populations had significantly faster germination times. Our results suggest that a shift towards greater dispersal ability does not have an associated negative effect on the colonization ability of G. gueinzii and may be a key factor in promoting further range expansion of this exotic invasive species.     

Macaques as Seed Dispersal Agents in Asian Forests: A Review

The role of primates in seed dispersal is well recognized. Macaques (Macaca spp.) are major primate seed dispersers in Asia, and recent studies have revealed their role as seed dispersal agents in this region. Here, we review present knowledge of the traits that define the role of macaques as seed dispersers. The size of seeds in fruit influences whether macaques swallow (0.5–17.1 mm; median: 3.0), spit (1–37 mm; median: 7.6), or drop (8.2–57.7 mm; median: 20.5) them. Dispersal distances via defecation are several hundreds of meters (median: 259 m, range: 0–1300 m), shorter than those achieved by some mammals and birds in tropical and temperate regions. However, macaques disperse seeds by defecation at comparable distances to omnivorous carnivores, and further than passerines. Seed dispersal distance by spitting is much shorter (median: 20 m, range: 0–405 m) than by defecation. Among Asian primates, seed dispersal distances resulting from macaque defecation are shorter than those for gibbons and longer than those for langurs. The effects of seed ingestion on the percentage and speed of germination vary among both plant and macaque species. The degree of frugivory, fruit/seed handling methods, seed dispersal distance, microhabitats of dispersed seeds, and effects of dispersal on seed germination vary seasonally and interannually, and long-term studies of the ecological role of macaques are needed. Researchers have begun to assess the effectiveness of seed dispersal by macaques, secondary dispersal of seeds originally dispersed by macaques, and the effects of provisioning on seed dispersal. Future studies should also test the effects of social factors (such as age and rank), which have received little attention in studies of seed dispersal.     

Predictions of Seed Shadows Generated by Common Brown Lemurs (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eulemur fulvus</Emphasis>) and Their Relationship to Seasonal Behavioral Strategies

Frugivorous primates in the family Lemuridae, the largest seed dispersers in Madagascar, often modify their behavior dramatically to cope with seasonal fluctuations in food availability and climate. Such behavioral strategies influence seed dispersal distances and seed shadows, which determine seed fate, gene flow, and the geographical range expansion of plant populations. To examine seasonal variation in seed shadows generated by the common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus), I combined data on movements of a wild group of lemurs in northwestern Madagascar from full-day observations made twice weekly for 1 year and full-night observations made once a fortnight during the dry season, with gut passage times for three captive individuals in a Malagasy zoo. During the rainy season, brown lemurs increased traveling effort (mean daily path lengths: 1172?±?SE 59 m), adopting a high-cost/high-yield foraging strategy to maximize harvest under periods of fruit abundance; this resulted in long seed dispersal distances (median: 170?±?MAD 77 m). During the dry season, daily path lengths (mean: 469?±?SE 30 m) were shorter owing to midday resting and consumption of water-rich succulent leaves, probably to avoid overheating and dehydration. These behaviors led to short-distance seed dispersal (median: 75?±?MAD 47 m). Although brown lemurs moved nocturnally during the dry season (mean nightly path lengths: 304?±?SE 58 m), nocturnal seed dispersal distances were short (median: 34?±?MAD 21 m). This seasonal variation in seed shadows might cause different population dynamics for rainy- and dry-season-fruiting species of large-seeded plants that depend on brown lemurs for seed dispersal. Additionally, lemur-facilitated seed dispersal distances were shorter than those of large frugivores elsewhere in the world. Therefore, lemur-mediated seed dispersal systems are likely to be vulnerable to forest fragmentation, which can isolate new recruits and prevent gene flow among plant metapopulations.     

Movement in a large predatory fish: coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus (Pisces: Serranidae), on Heron Reef, Australia

 Movement by the larger more mobile species of coral reef fish plays a significant role in determining patterns in abundance and population structure. Fish movement is also relevant to the use and effectiveness of marine reserves in managing fish populations. Coral trout are large piscivorous serranids supporting major fisheries on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). This study reports on the within-reef movement of the common coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, at Heron Reef, southern GBR, over a twelve month period, investigated by tagging and underwater tracking. Tracking of coral trout revealed no apparent relationship between the area moved and stage of tide or time of day. However, movement areas were affected by the size of fish: in spring a linear relationship between fish size and area of movement was measured, but in summer the largest (male) fish moved over significantly smaller areas than medium-sized fish. Movement of males may be related to cleaning behaviour and spawning. Fifty nine percent (n=101) of the tagged fish were resighted over periods of 4–5 months, in “home sites” measuring ∼2000 m². Coral trout were not restricted to home sites, but moved on average 2 km along the reef slope; maximum distances of 7–7.5 km were measured. Coral trout appear to range as mobile, opportunistic predators, but also maintain home sites for access to shelter and cleaning stations. Accepted: 1 August 1996     

Movement pattern of red deer during drive hunts in Sweden

We investigated the movement pattern of GPS-collared red deer (Cervus elaphus) during drive hunts with loose dogs. In 46 flights of hinds (N?=?9), the median flight distance was 2.5 km (range 0.4–15.0). In 28 % of the flights, the hind left its home range. Average time before returning to home range was 23 h (range 2–88). Hinds in a less forested site left their home ranges more often, fled longer distances, moved at higher speed, and returned later than hinds in a homogenous forest. Speed of movement increased with number of hunts in the less forested site. In eight flights of stags (N?=?4), the median flight distance was 5.1 km (range 2.2–13.3). The start of hunting season seemed to trigger stags’ departure to their wintering areas. Knowledge of reactions to disturbance can aid game management to choose hunting methods and dogs that cause less disturbance but may also be used to deter deer from areas where they damage crops and forest plantations.     

Herbivorous fishes,ecosystem function and mobile links on coral reefs

Understanding large-scale movement of ecologically important taxa is key to both species and ecosystem management. Those species responsible for maintaining functional connectivity between habitats are often called mobile links and are regarded as essential elements of resilience. By providing connectivity, they support resilience across spatial scales. Most marine organisms, including fishes, have long-term, biogeographic-scale connectivity through larval movement. Although most reef species are highly site attached after larval settlement, some taxa may also be able to provide rapid, reef-scale connectivity as adults. On coral reefs, the identity of such taxa and the extent of their mobility are not yet known. We use acoustic telemetry to monitor the movements of Kyphosus vaigiensis, one of the few reef fishes that feeds on adult brown macroalgae. Unlike other benthic herbivorous fish species, it also exhibits large-scale (>2 km) movements. Individual K. vaigiensis cover, on average, a 2.5 km length of reef (11 km maximum) each day. These large-scale movements suggest that this species may act as a mobile link, providing functional connectivity, should the need arise, and helping to support functional processes across habitats and spatial scales. An analysis of published studies of home ranges in reef fishes found a consistent relationship between home range size and body length. K. vaigiensis is the sole herbivore to depart significantly from the expected home range–body size relationship, with home range sizes more comparable to exceptionally mobile large pelagic predators rather than other reef herbivores. While the large-scale movements of K. vaigiensis reveal its potential capacity to enhance resilience over large areas, it also emphasizes the potential limitations of small marine reserves to protect some herbivore populations.     

Fire promotes downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) seed dispersal

Particularly well-known among the many impacts of the invasive annual grass downy brome (Bromus tectorum, Poaceae) is its ability to alter fire cycles and increase in abundance after fire. However, little is known about how fire influences B. tectorum dispersal. We quantified fire effects on B. tectorum dispersal using three recently burned areas in the western region of the Colorado Rocky Mountains by marking diaspores (seeds) with fluorescent powder, and then recovering them at night using ultraviolet lights. Diaspores were of two types: with and without sterile florets attached. We also characterized vegetation cover and near-surface wind speed in burned and unburned areas. Diaspores travelled much farther in burned areas than in nearby unburned areas (mean ± standard error at the end of the experiment: 209 ± 16 cm and 38 ± 1 cm, respectively; maximal distance at the end of the experiment: 2,274 cm and 150 cm, respectively), indicating an increase in dispersal distance after fire. Diaspores with sterile florets attached dispersed longer distances than those without sterile florets (mean ± standard error at the end of the experiment: 141 ± 14 cm and 88 ± 7 cm, respectively). Vegetation cover was lower and wind speeds were higher in the burned areas. Our results indicate that at least one of the mechanisms by which the spread of B. tectorum is promoted by fire is through increased seed dispersal distance. Preventing movement of seeds from nearby infestations into burned areas may help avoid the rapid population expansion often observed.     

Behavioural aspects of predation by juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) on particulate,drifting prey

A recirculatory flume tank simulating a simplified stream environment was used to study the feeding behaviour of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), 5.1 to 9.4 cm in fork length (from tip of snout to fork of tail), on artificial particulate prey passively drifting in the water current. Changes in feeding behaviour at two different times of the year and when fish were presented with prey of different sizes are described and quantified. Responsiveness to food was greatly reduced in autumn as compared to summer. The maximum distances at which prey elicited a response decreased in autumn to 40% of the summer value, and the maximum distances which fish traversed in order to capture prey decreased by 80% over the same period. During the peak growing season, the response to a range of prey sizes from 0.013 to 0.102 × fish fork length was directly related to prey size and could be accounted for on the basis of visual theory alone. Capture distances were closely related to fixation distances. Maximum capture distance increased to a peak value for prey of between 0.025 and 0.069 × fork length, while larger prey were never captured and the smallest prey rarely evoked a response. Prey size selectivity also operated after capture, through rejection versus retention of the prey.     

Realized pollen and seed dispersal within a continuous population of the dioecious coniferous Brazilian pine [Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze]

Extensive realized pollen and seed flow across populations reduces inbreeding and spatial genetic structure (SGS) and increases the genetic diversity and effective size within populations. Inbreeding, SGS and realized patterns of pollen and seed dispersal of the dioecious, wind pollinated Araucaria angustifolia were investigated based on microsatellite loci. The study was conducted in a 7.2 ha plot established within a continuous Araucaria Forest in Southern Brazil. In the plot, all 290 adult trees were mapped, measured (diameter at breast height, dbh), sexed, sampled and genotyped. We also sampled, measured (total height), mapped and genotyped 223 juveniles. A total of 86 alleles were detected in the sample (n = 513). Adults and juveniles showed a positive and significant fixation index (minimum of 0.096), suggesting inbreeding or Wahlund effect. Juveniles presented a significant aggregated distribution which was associated with a genetic aggregation (significant SGS up to 20 m), indicating that near neighbor trees may be related due the limited seed dispersal. However, the intensity of SGS was not significantly higher among juveniles (Sp = 0.0041) than adults (Sp = 0.0026). Realized pollen and seed immigration into the plot was low (pollen = 6 %; seeds = 5 %) and the patterns of pollen and seed dispersal were similar. Pollen was dispersed over long distances (343 m), but 50 % was dispersed up to 124 m. Seeds also reached long distances (318 m), with 50 % being dispersed up to 133 m. Our results are discussed in terms of auto-ecology and the genetic conservation of A. angustifolia populations.     

Site fidelity and home range variation during the breeding season of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in Yamal,Russia

Many different ecological factors affecting the size, use, and spatial configuration of home ranges have been investigated, yet the chronology of the breeding cycle has been relatively under studied. Here, we studied peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) to describe variation in home range within and between breeding seasons in the Yamal peninsula, a region of the Russian Arctic with a high breeding density of peregrines. We used satellite telemetry to investigate variation in home range at different stages of the breeding cycle during three breeding seasons (2009–2011). We fitted Argos satellite transmitters to 10 breeding peregrines (nine females and one male) and two male fledglings. All breeding females showed fidelity to the region of the southwestern Yamal peninsula, but they were not necessarily faithful to their specific breeding ranges with 33 % dispersing to new ranges up to 40 km away. The population of peregrines in our study area was relatively synchronous in their breeding chronology, with clutches initiated in close synchrony in early June despite the birds arriving on their breeding ranges ca. 3 weeks earlier. The average home range size for breeding females was 98 km² (95 % Maximum Convex Polygon). Over the breeding season, the home range area utilized by females increased in the late nestling period and again after the chicks fledged. Expansion of the home range coincided with changes in behavior associated with parental care, resulting in greater activity and more time spent away from the nest area when the female began hunting to provision nestlings and fledglings.     

Pollen flow in Psiguria warscewiczii: a comparison of Heliconius butterflies and hummingbirds

Summary Pollen dispersal by male and female Heliconius butterflies and hermit hummingbirds was examined in a natural population of the tropical vine Psiguria warscewiczii. Fluorescent dyes were used to track flowers visited by individual pollinators. Mean distance of pollen dispersal was significantly higher by males than by female Heliconius. Butterflies dispersed pollen greater distances than did hummingbirds. There were no significant differences in dispersal distance among species of Heliconius. The number of flowers or plants to which dye was dispersed was greater for Heliconius than for hummingbirds.The home range behavior and site specificity exhibited by Heliconius, together with the preference by most Heliconius species in the study site for Psiguria led us to examine the relationship between the butterflies' home range and its daily foraging among Psiguria. A Heliconius mark-recapture program was conducted simultaneously with the dye program. This study showed that individual butterflies, for which extensive recaptures were made, visited an area of Psiguria plants on any one day that corresponded to the area in which those butterflies were caught or observed. The area over which a butterfly moved was termed its home range; within home ranges relative movement by butterflies was estimated as the mean distance between sequential captures. This estimate differed significantly among species of Heliconius; males of all species moving greater distances than females.     

Ranging behavior of Mahale chimpanzees: a 16 year study

We have analyzed the ranging patterns of the Mimikire group (M group) of chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania. During 16 years, the chimpanzees moved over a total area of 25.2 or 27.4 km², as estimated by the grid-cell or minimum convex polygon (MCP) methods, respectively. Annually, the M group used an average of 18.4 km², or approximately 70 %, of the total home-range area. The chimpanzees had used 80 % of their total home range after 5 years and 95 % after 11 years. M group chimpanzees were observed more than half of the time in areas that composed only 15 % of their total home range. Thus, they typically moved over limited areas, visiting other parts of their range only occasionally. On average, the chimpanzees used 7.6 km² (in MCP) per month. Mean monthly range size was smallest at the end of the rainy season and largest at the end of the dry season, but there was much variability from year to year. The chimpanzees used many of the same areas every year when Saba comorensis fruits were abundant between August and January. In contrast, the chimpanzees used several different areas of their range in June. Here range overlap between years was relatively small. Over the 16 years of the study we found that the M group reduced their use of the northern part of their range and increased their frequency of visits to the eastern mountainous side of their home range. Changes in home-range size correlated positively with the number of adult females but not with the number of adult males. This finding does not support a prediction of the male-defended territory model proposed for some East African chimpanzee unit-groups.     

Keeping it in the family: strong fine-scale genetic structure and inbreeding in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lodoicea maldivica</Emphasis>, the largest-seeded plant in the world

The fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) of plant populations is strongly influenced by patterns of seed dispersal. An extreme case of limited dispersal is found in the charismatic yet endangered palm Lodoicea maldivica, which produces large fruits (up to 20 kg) dispersed only by gravity. To investigate patterns of seed dispersal and FSGS in natural populations we sampled 1252 individual adults and regenerating offspring across the species’ natural range in the Seychelles archipelago, and characterised their genotypes at 12 microsatellite loci. The average dispersal distance was 8.7?±?0.7 m. Topography had a significant effect on seed dispersal, with plants on steep slopes exhibiting the longest distances. FSGS was intense, especially in younger cohorts. Contrary to what might be expected in a dioecious species, we found high levels of inbreeding, with most neighbouring pairs of male and female trees (≤10 m) being closely related. Nonetheless, levels of genetic diversity were relatively high and similar in the various sampling areas, although these differed in disturbance and habitat fragmentation. We discuss potential trade-offs associated with maternal resource provisioning of progeny, seed dispersal and inbreeding, and consider the implications of our findings for managing this globally significant flagship species.     

Stage- and weather-dependent dispersal in the brown garden snail Cornu aspersum

Dispersal decisions are often condition-dependent, influenced by the interaction of individual phenotype and environmental conditions. Terrestrial Gastropods are simultaneous hermaphrodites, a reproductive system rarely studied in the context of dispersal. Moreover, the energetic cost of their movement is one of the highest among animals. Despite these features, which make them valuable models to understand the trade-offs between dispersal and other life-history traits, their dispersal strategies have been barely explored. We studied the movements of subadults and adults of the brown garden snail Cornu aspersum in a semi-natural 4-patch network, for 2 months in 2011 (a dry year) and 1 month in 2012 (a wet year). We assessed the effects of life-history stage (subadult/adult) and weather conditions on dispersal propensity and dispersal speed. Snails were more mobile under humid and warm weather, but nearly all individuals left patches when the relative humidity was close to 100 % in 2012. Because such humidity levels are potentially lethal to C. aspersum, we argue these extreme emigration rates might be an emergency escape response to harmful conditions. Despite a theoretically higher cost of movement, we found that subadults emigrated more, and dispersed faster and further, than adults. Thus, and contrary to what was expected, direct costs of movement do not play the main role in shaping dispersal in C. aspersum. Observed differences between subadults and adults in dispersal behaviour are discussed in the context of intraspecific competition, inbreeding avoidance and relative costs of male and female reproduction.