The dynamics of spatially structured populations (SSPs) depend on dispersal movements between habitat patches. Individual‐level studies show that dispersal can be informed by social cues about habitat quality, such as breeding success or the number of conspecifics in a patch. However, informed dispersal has rarely been considered in studies investigating SSP dynamics. In particular, little is known about how patch dynamics are...

This study provides a regional picture of long‐term changes in Atlantic salmon growth at the southern edge of their distribution, using a multi‐population approach spanning 49 years and five populations. We provide empirical evidence of salmon life history being influenced by a combination of common signals in the marine environment and population‐specific signals. We identified an abrupt decline in growth from 1976 and a more...

Habitat selection theory predicts that natural selection should favor mechanisms allowing individuals to choose habitats associated with the highest fitness prospects. However, identifying sources of information on habitat quality that individuals use to choose their breeding habitat has proved to be difficult. It has also proven difficult to identify dispersal costs that prevent individuals from joining the highest‐quality si...