What Is Metapopulation Theory?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Metapopulation, in ecology,

a regional group of connected populations of a species

. … Extinction of local populations is common in some species, and the regional persistence of such species is dependent on the existence of a metapopulation.

What is metapopulation concept?

Metapopulations are

populations of subpopulations within some defined area

, in which dispersal from one local population (subpopulation) to at least some other habitat patches is possible.

What was the example of metapopulation theory?

Metapopulation is a population in which individuals are spatially distributed in a habitat in two or more subpopulations.

Populations of butterflies and coral-reef fishes

are good examples of metapopulation .

What is a classical metapopulation theory?

Classical metapopulation (CM) theory considers that

species persistence in the landscape depends on a turnover of extinction-(re)colonisation of suitable habitat patches at each generation

. Therefore, metapopulation dynamics are approximated by binary changes in the state of individual patches.

What is the metapopulation model?

Metapopulation models are

a type of spatial model which investigate interactions and movements among different subpopulations of

(usually) the same species across time and space

18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23

.

What is Levins metapopulation model?

The Levins metapopulation model

describes the dynamics of several populations in patches of suitable habitat

. These populations may go extinct, leaving empty patches of suitable habitat, but these empty patches may be recolonized by other populations via dispersal.

What is a metapopulation and why is it important?

Metapopulation, in ecology,

a regional group of connected populations of a species

. … Hence, elimination of much of the metapopulation structure of some species can increase the chance of regional extinction of species. Related Topics: Population distribution. The structure of metapopulations varies among species.

What are the types of metapopulation?

More generally, Harrison and Taylor (1997) cautioned that classical metapopulations could be rare and that metapopulations in nature can have a diversity of structures including mainland-island, patchy popula- tion,

nonequilibrium metapopulation

(Fig. 2), and mixed structures at different spatial scales. …

How is metapopulation calculated?

  1. I=pi⋅(1−f)(Eq. The more sites are occupied, the higher the rate of patch extinction!
  2. E=pe⋅f(Eq. Combining equation 1 with the above equations, we get our first metapopulation model:
  3. Δf=pi(1−f)−pef(Eq. This model (and the following models) assume the following:

Are humans a metapopulation?

The researchers advocate a structured population model, as humans evolved from multiple interconnected subpopulations of early humans, spread out across Africa in a

large metapopulation

. A structured model reflects a continuous process of fission, fusion, gene flow and local extinction.

Who coined the term metapopulation?

The term metapopulation was coined by

Richard Levins

in the early 1970s to describe a population of populations. Classical metapopulations comprise a series of patches where a particular species could potentially survive, with some patches being occupied and others lying empty at any point in time.

What is a source sink metapopulation?

Source–sink dynamics is

a theoretical model used by ecologists to describe how variation in habitat quality may affect the population growth or decline of organisms

. … Organisms are generally assumed to be able to distinguish between high and low quality habitat, and to prefer high quality habitat.

What is a non equilibrium metapopulation?

Non-equilibrium metapopulation model: … Each metapopulation is extinction-prone because of its isolation and small size. 2. In this model, the

subpopulations are completely independent and their demographics are not linked

.

What is the equilibrium point of a metapopulation?

In other words, as long as the probability of a patch to be colonized exceeds its probability to go extinct, the metapopulation exists, with a single stable equilibrium incidence P’. The metapopulation is stable at the point in Fig. 2A where

dP/dt = 0, at the intersection of the C and the E lines.

How is the metapopulation concept related to immigration and emigration?

Dispersal strongly influences the dynamics of a metapopulation and its subpopulations. When

individuals disperse out of a population (emigration), the population size decreases

; and when individuals successfully disperse into a subpopulation (immigration), the recipient population size increases.

What is the key difference between a logistic population model and a metapopulation model?

Logistic population models look at

dynamics of population size (N) and carrying capacity (K)

, while metapopulation models focus on extinction-recolonization dynamics (Ricklefs and Miller 2000). 1.

James Park
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James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.