A unifying framework for metapopulation dynamics

The American Naturalist
Karin Harding, John M McNamara

Abstract

Many biologically important processes, such as genetic differentiation, the spread of disease, and population stability, are affected by the (natural or enforced) subdivision of populations into networks of smaller, partly isolated, subunits. Such "metapopulations" can have extremely complex dynamics. We present a new general model that uses only two functions to capture, at the metapopulation scale, the main behavior of metapopulations. We show how complex, structured metapopulation models can be translated into our generalized framework. The metapopulation dynamics arising from some important biological processes are illustrated: the rescue effect, the Allee effect, and what we term the "antirescue effect." The antirescue effect captures instances where high migration rates are deleterious to population persistence, a phenomenon that has been largely ignored in metapopulation conservation theory. Management regimes that ignore a significant antirescue effect will be inadequate and may actually increase extinction risk. Further, consequences of territoriality and conspecific attraction on metapopulation-level dynamics are investigated. The new, simplified framework can incorporate knowledge from epidemiology, genetics, and pop...Continue Reading

References

Aug 19, 2008·The American Naturalist·J Vandermeer, R Carvajal
Oct 1, 1997·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·B Grenfell, J Harwood

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Citations

Oct 10, 2006·Bulletin of Mathematical Biology·Maia Martcheva, Benjamin M Bolker
Nov 12, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Robert D Holt
Mar 24, 2004·Artificial Life·Stephan AltmeyerJohn S McCaskill
Dec 19, 2014·Movement Ecology·Sara L Zeigler, William F Fagan
Sep 18, 2007·The American Naturalist·Frank M Hilker, Frank H Westerhoff
Oct 11, 2012·Theoretical Population Biology·A ErikssonB Mehlig
Dec 27, 2011·Journal of Theoretical Biology·K C HardingB Wennberg
Aug 13, 2008·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Manojit RoyRobert D Holt
Sep 27, 2007·Molecular Ecology·Thorsten B H Reusch, Troy E Wood
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Apr 23, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Daniel OroAlejandro Martínez-Abraín
Mar 9, 2019·Journal of Mathematical Biology·Matthew J Labrum, Richard Gomulkiewicz

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