Metapopulations

If two species are isolated due to a physical barrier, however, travel between the two sites remains viable the population is said to be a metapopulation. In other words two or more populations spatial separated with some level of interaction. Populations such as these face different challenges and are affected by factors differently to a classic population. Two variables can be measured of a metapopulation that is different from classic populations, C, and E. C is the colonization rate of the various patches of habitable land and E is the extinction rate of the populations. When C is greater than E then the metapopulation can survive for long periods of time. Any other relationship results in the eventual extinction of the population. When determining the relationship a metapopulation has scientists consider two factors. The first is Isolation. The degree to which a habitable patch is isolated from the rest of the patches will affect both the colonization and extinction rate. A highly isolated patch will have a much lower colonization rate due to it being hard to reach or find by immigrating individuals. Simultaneously, the extinction rate will be higher because a small isolated population is more susceptible to extinction events. The other factor as mentioned in the previous sentence is the size of the population at a specific location.