-Natal dispersal (i.e., movement of wandering individuals from their birthplaces to their first breeding locations) is one of the most important yet least understood features of ecology, population biology, and evolution. The analysis of the dispersal process from the perspective of the unusual lifehistories of raptors (typically less-studied species, because of the difficulties inherent in working with them) may enhance our understanding of some additional aspects of dispersal. Here we comment on the potential offered by studies on raptor natal dispersal, in particular: (a) the importance of floaters in the dynamics, stability, and persistence of breeding populations; (b) the complexity of dispersal as a multistep process characterized by several shifts in behavior; (c) the importance of studying patterns of animal movement, which influence the patterns of population spatial structure; (d) the crucial conservation implications of dispersal studies. © 2009 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc.

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