The model of metapopulations postulates that some patches that are suitable for a species will not be occupied by the species. Does that mean that the patch is not really suitable after all? Does it mean that it is unimportant for the conservation of the species and can be used for industrial development? Explain.
The model of metapopulations postulates that some patches that are suitable for a species will not be occupied by the species. Does that mean that the patch is not really suitable after all? Does it mean that it is unimportant for the conservation of the species and can be used for industrial development? Explain.
When several local are interconnected by migration and gene flow between the various patches, the local populations will constitute or form a metapopulation.
Empty patches are never surplus, spare, or unneeded. Any specific population that survives in a particular patch for a certain amount of time will eventually die off either because it was outcompeted or the species might have done well in early succession but poor later. The species success will depend on its ability to thrive and colonize the empty patches as quickly it died off in an occupied patch. Thus, the empty patch is never unneeded and can be suitable for some type of species.
Therefore, empty patches can be occupied by various species by migration from the occupied patches. Therefore, empty patches are always available for recolonization. Thus, these empty patches will always be necessary for the conservation of different species and cannot be utilized for industrial development as industrial development will occupy the patch, and species will not be able to migrate and recolonize.
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