metapopuláció

Metapopuláció, or metapopulation, is a concept in ecology that refers to a population of populations, or a group of populations that are interconnected through dispersal of individuals. This term was introduced by the ecologist Robert MacArthur and the evolutionary biologist Edward O. Wilson in 1967.

In a metapopulation, individual populations can go extinct locally, but the species as a whole can persist due to the ongoing colonization of suitable habitats by dispersing individuals from other populations. This dynamic is influenced by factors such as habitat availability, dispersal ability, and environmental stochasticity.

Metapopulations can be found in various ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and marine environments. For example, in a forest metapopulation, individual tree populations can fluctuate due to factors like disease, fire, or competition, but the overall tree species can persist through seed dispersal and regeneration.

The study of metapopulations is important for understanding the dynamics of species persistence and extinction, as well as for conservation efforts. By considering the interconnectedness of populations, ecologists can better predict how species will respond to environmental changes and develop strategies to protect metapopulations as a whole.

Key aspects of metapopulation dynamics include source-sink dynamics, where some populations (sources) contribute more individuals to the metapopulation than they receive, while others (sinks) receive more individuals than they contribute, and the role of habitat fragmentation in influencing metapopulation structure and function.