Natal dispersal distances of mammals. 
Natal dispersal distances are the distances that juvenile animals travel 
from their birthplace to their adult home. 
An assessment of the factors affecting dispersal distances is important 
for understanding population spread, recolonization, and gene flow—which 
are central issues for conservation of many vertebrate species. 
For example, an understanding of dispersal distances will help to 
identify which species in a community are vulnerable to the loss of 
connectedness of habitat. 
To further the understanding of determinants of natal dispersal distances, 
researchers gathered data on body weight, diet type, and maximum 
natal dispersal distance for various animals. 
Shown below are 64 rows of data on mammals. 
(Data from Sutherland, G.D., et al., 2000, “Scaling of natal 
dispersal distances in terrestrial birds and mammals,” Conservation 
Ecology 4(1): 16.) Analyze the data to describe the 
distribution of maximum dispersal distance as a function of body 
mass and diet type. Write a summary of statistical findings.  

O = onnivoro
C = Carnivoro

species	               bodymass	maxdist	type

Didelphis virginianus	2.415	5.15	O
Phascogale tapotafa	0.172	6.80	C
Trichosurus vulpecula	2.930	12.80	C
Sorex araneus	0.004	0.87	C
Scapanus townsendii	0.148	0.86	O
Ursus americanus	104.450	225.00	O
Ursus arctos	331.000	134.00	O
Procyon lotor	7.800	265.50	O
Martes americana	1.040	61.00	C
Martes pennanti	2.900	23.00	C
Mustela erminea	0.067	5.60	C
Mustela vison	1.169	45.10	C
Lutra canadensis	9.070	42.00	C
Gulo gulo	14.400	300.00	C
Taxidea taxus	6.975	110.00	C
Meles meles	10.850	8.30	O
Mephitis mephitis	2.909	8.30	O
Canis latrans	14.060	232.20	C
Canis lupus	41.380	432.00	C
Vulpes vulpes	5.200	394.00	C
Urocyon cinereoargenteus	4.000	83.68	C
Felis concolor	53.050	274.00	C
Lynx lynx	10.149	9.70	C
Lynx rufus	8.900	182.00	C
Castor canadensis	24.300	40.60	H
Marmota flaviventris	5.448	1.40	H
Marmota monax	3.499	0.77	H
Spermophilus richardsonii	0.405	0.98	H
Spermophilus beecheyi	0.475	1.44	H
Spermophilus beldingi	0.400	0.33	H
Spermophilus leucopus	0.192	0.52	H
Spermophilus tridecemliniatus	0.140	0.24	H
Sciurus niger	0.790	3.37	H
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus	0.202	0.60	H
Thomomys bottae	0.150	0.30	C
Perognathus formosa	0.023	0.85	H
Dipodomys merriami	0.043	0.25	H
Dipodomys microps	0.065	0.43	H
Dipodomys spectabilis	0.115	2.00	H
Neotoma cinerea	0.360	2.20	H
Clethrionomys glareolus	0.023	0.40	H
Onychomys torridus	26.800	0.33	H
Microtus agrestis	0.023	0.19	H
Microtus arvalis	0.022	0.20	H
Microtus ochrogaster	0.031	0.14	H
Microtus oeconomus	0.032	1.00	H
Microtus pennsylvanicus	0.040	0.25	H
Microtus townsendi	0.032	0.07	H
Microtus xanthognathus	135.000	0.30	H
Peromyscus californicus	0.018	0.79	H
Peromyscus longicaudus	0.008	0.24	H
Peromyscus maniculatus	0.015	1.01	O
Apodemus sylvaticus	0.020	0.50	H
Ondatra zibethicus	1.048	3.37	H
Lepus americanus	1.430	20.10	H
Lepus europea	4.500	9.00	H
Lepus timidus	2.750	200.00	H
Lepus californicus	2.200	45.00	H
Sylvilagus bachmani	0.841	0.35	H
Sylvilagus floridanus	1.150	3.90	H
Odocoileus hemionus columbianus	64.638	15.20	H
Odocoileus hemionus hemionus	67.125	8.22	H
Alces alces	481.830	118.00	H
Cervus canadensis	270.000	18.50	H