Question

A classical metapopulation at equilibrium is made up of local populations with:

• A. no dispersal between them.
• B. no local colonisation or extinction.
• C. weak dispersal between them.
• D. panmictically breeding individuals across populations.

Hint:

To identify characteristics of metapopulations:
1. Classical metapopulations require a balance between local extinction and recolonisation.
2. Dispersal between local populations is critical for maintaining genetic flow and recolonisation.
3. Panmictic populations or complete isolation do not describe metapopulation dynamics.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Define a classical metapopulation. A classical metapopulation consists of a group of spatially separated populations (local populations) of the same species. These local populations interact through occasional dispersal of individuals. Such a metapopulation exists in a balance between local extinction and recolonisation. Step 2: Analyze the options. Option (A): Incorrect. A classical metapopulation requires some level of dispersal between local populations for recolonisation to occur. No dispersal would lead to isolated populations with no gene flow. Option (B): Incorrect. Local extinction and colonisation are fundamental processes in metapopulation dynamics. The absence of these processes would not represent a classical metapopulation. Option (C): Correct. Weak dispersal between local populations allows for the recolonisation of empty patches and gene flow, maintaining the metapopulation structure. Option (D): Incorrect. Panmictic breeding (random mating among all individuals) implies no spatial structure, which contradicts the definition of a metapopulation.