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Dispersal has a key role in shaping spatial patterns of biodiversity, yet its spatial heterogeneity is often overlooked in biodiversity analyses and management strategies. Properly parameterised heterogeneous dispersal networks capture the complex interplay between landscape structure and species-specific dispersal capacities. However, this heterogeneity is recurrently neglected when studying the processes underlying biodiversity variation. To address this gap, we introduce a conceptual framework detailing the fundamental processes driving dispersal heterogeneity and its effects on biodiversity dynamics. We propose methods to parameterise heterogeneous dispersal networks, facilitating their integration into commonly used quantitative frameworks for biodiversity analyses. By considering the architecture of heterogeneous dispersal networks, we demonstrate their critical role in guiding biodiversity management strategies.