Table 5 Dispersal limitation is stronger in oribatid mite species that are large. For each species, dispersal limitation is inferred beforehand from a proportionally higher abundance on young- vs old-crown branches where these branches are put in contact (i.e. a positive interaction term [young crown * contact with contrasting age], transformed into an effect size. Methods). The present multiple regression analysis statistically explains dispersal limitation of species by their body size, while accounting for arboreal distribution (i.e. habitat from ground-living to strictly arboreal-living) and its interaction with mean body size. The table gives parameter estimate, beta values (standardized parameter estimates), t and p values (for one-tailed hypothesis). Df = 13, total R² = 0.29. See Fig. 3 for an illustration of the results.

From: Large body size constrains dispersal assembly of communities even across short distances