This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Morgan, W. H., Cornulier, T. and Lambin, X. (2019), Colonisation dynamics during range expansion is poorly predicted by dispersal in the core range. Ecography, 42: 1142-1151., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.04180. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.