- Walking or running
- Flying
- Swimming
- Ballooning (using silk threads to catch the wind)
- Seed dispersal (by attaching to animals or being eaten and passed through their digestive systems)
- Advection (being carried by wind or water)
The type of dispersal method an animal uses depends on its size, shape, and environment. Some animals, such as birds and insects, can travel long distances by flying. Others, such as fish and amphibians, can travel long distances by swimming. Still others, such as mammals and reptiles, can travel long distances by walking or running.
Some animals use more than one dispersal method. For example, some birds migrate by flying long distances, but they may also disperse shorter distances by walking or running. Some fish migrate by swimming long distances, but they may also disperse shorter distances by ballooning.
The dispersal of animals is important for the maintenance of biodiversity. It helps to ensure that populations of animals are not too concentrated in one area, which can lead to overgrazing, competition for resources, and disease transmission. Dispersal also helps to connect populations of animals, which allows for the exchange of genes and the spread of new adaptations.