You are managing a metapopulation of a threatened beetle that lives on a plant that is found in patches.Because of the distribution of its host plant,the beetle is also found in patches,and these patches vary in size.If you are faced with limited resources and cannot attempt to save all of the beetle subpopulations,where should you concentrate your efforts,and why?
A) On the smallest patches,because these are at highest risk for extinction
B) On the smallest patches,because subpopulations in these patches will have the highest growth rates
C) On the smallest patches,because these have the lowest likelihood of being affected by environmental disturbances
D) On the largest patches,because these have the highest potential to reseed the other patches
E) On whichever patches are most convenient,because patch size does not matter

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Concentrating efforts on the largest patches is strategic because they have the highest potential to support larger, more stable beetle populations that can serve as sources to reseed and recolonize smaller patches, thus maintaining the overall metapopulation.

You Are Managing a Metapopulation of a Threatened Beetle That