Which is an example of a metapopulation?
I. Insects live in isolated patches of forest surrounded by agriculture. Sometimes the population in a patch goes extinct, but eventually the insects recolonize that patch.
II. A species of bird is found in Canada during the summer. In the fall, the species migrates to the Caribbean and spends the winter there. In the spring it returns to Canada.
III. A species of fish lives in a fast-flowing cold river. A dam is constructed on the river, causing the fish to go extinct because of warmer water.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Metapopulations consist of separate populations that are connected by the movement of individuals between them, allowing for recolonization of habitats where populations may have gone extinct. Option I describes this scenario accurately, with insects living in isolated patches and recolonizing extinct patches, fitting the definition of a metapopulation. Options II and III do not describe metapopulations; II describes seasonal migration, and III describes extinction due to habitat change, neither of which involve the metapopulation concept of separate, interacting populations.

Which Is an Example of a Metapopulation