metapopulasjonens
Metapopulations describe a set of spatially separated populations of the same species that interact through the regular movement of individuals. The concept was first formalised by Richard Levins in the early 1960s in the context of metapopulation dynamics arising from patchy habitats. A metapopulation is thus characterised by a mosaic of local populations that may be locally extinct and recolonised over time. Individual dispersal between patches creates a network that stabilises or destabilises the species as a whole, depending on patch quality, connectivity and the balance between extinction and colonisation rates.
Key components of metapopulation theory include (1) habitat patches, (2) local population dynamics within each patch,
In conservation, metapopulation thinking underpins strategies such as creating wildlife corridors, implementing stepping‑stone habitats, and managing