Because most natural populations are actually metapopulations, we can only understand their dynamics if, in addition to the births and deaths of individuals, we also understand:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Understanding the extinction and colonization of local populations is necessary to understand the dynamics of metapopulations, as individuals may disperse between local populations. Additionally, understanding births and deaths alone is insufficient, as local populations may become extinct or be colonized by individuals from other populations. While r and K selection may be relevant to understanding population growth rates, it is not necessary to understand metapopulation dynamics.

Because Most Natural Populations Are Actually Metapopulations, We Can Only