transplants across a latitudinal gradient

In general, latitudinal climatic gradients are thought to be smooth, gradual and generally unidirectional. However continental, maritime effects and topography tend to complicate things. In terms of comparing 'over the edge' translocation studies across a latitudinal gradient with  the goal of testing for dispersal limitation, I think it is also important to consider the study locality on much larger continental/national scale and consider landscape complexity near a current or historic range boundary. For instance, in the excellent maps produced by bonap.org (see link below) provides really clear bioclimatic sketches across the USA with the south and mid-west showing a clear gradual latitude-climate gradients while the west (not surprisingly) shows much sharper gradients and appears more as a mosaic (at some scales) rather than a smooth gradient.

BIOCLIMATIC
http://www.bonap.org/Climate%20Maps/ClimateMaps.html