What term characterizes the slow, gradual spread of a species across a landscape?

The term that best characterizes the slow, gradual spread of a species across a landscape is diffusion. This process refers to the gradual movement and establishment of a population in a new area over time, often following a predictable pattern as individuals disperse from the original location into surrounding environments.

Diffusion typically occurs at a relatively slow rate, allowing species to adapt to new habitats and climatic conditions as they expand their range. This is in contrast to more rapid forms of dispersal, such as jump dispersal, where organisms might travel quickly over larger distances to establish a presence in a new habitat, or seasonal migration, which involves the periodic movement of individuals between locations rather than a settlement process. Habitat fragmentation refers to the process of dividing natural habitats into smaller, isolated patches, which leads to ecological challenges but does not describe the spread of a species. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in wildlife ecology, as it helps in the conservation and management of species and their habitats.