1. In fact, suitable habitat forms a network of patches, and be enough to support local breeding populations.

2. CHAPTER 12 Metapopulation

3. Metapopulations = network of populations that interact occasionally by exchanging individuals.
The spatially discrete subpopulations are
coined metapopulation.

4. How to define a metapopulation?
Discrete patches may be occupied.
Dynamics are not synchronized
Not too isolated to prevent recolonization
The largest populations have a substantial risk of extinction.
Fig 12.1 the metapopulation concept

5. Occur when habitat is patchily distributed and separated by unsuitable habitat
glanville fritillary butterfly in Finland
Characterized by suitable habitat patches going extinct and getting recolonized over time

6. Population ecology
Simple metapopulation contains populations in equally suitable habitats
Differences in habitat suitability produces a source-sink metapopulation
Sources = populations in high-quality habitat; continually produce ‘surplus’ individuals that colonize new habitats
3 separate populations
3 populations of simple metapopulation
(arrows =migration of individuals)
Source
sink
Source-sink metapopulation
Sinks = populations in low-quality habitat; can not persist without continuous input from neighboring populations
Where have all the sea otters gone?

7. Study questions Further Reading
How does the risk of local extinction apparently be influenced with the patch size and patch isolation?
And who is the dominant?
How to determine which size category has the largest of for occupancy?
How to determine which patch size represents a threshold for the long-term persistence of local populations?
Further Reading
Thomas M. Smith and Robert Leo Smith. Elements of Ecology. pp: