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Using individual‐based simulations to test the Levins metapopulation paradigm
Author(s) -
Keeling Matt J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of animal ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.134
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1365-2656
pISSN - 0021-8790
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2002.00594.x
Subject(s) - metapopulation , ecology , extinction (optical mineralogy) , biology , occupancy , population , statistical physics , physics , biological dispersal , demography , paleontology , sociology
Summary1 Levins metapopulations have become a standard tool for modelling spatially heterogeneous populations. The acceptance of these models by ecologists may be attributed to their simple structure and their use of presence–absence data. 2 Using structured‐metapopulations, which possess stochastic dynamics at the local subpopulation level, the extinction and subsequent recolonization rates can be calculated and compared to those of the classical Levins model. 3 Single‐species metapopulations conform to the Levins ideal, validating the widespread use of this conceptual model. However, multispecies systems are shown to deviate in a consistent manner. This deviation, which is explained in terms of a correlation between patch occupancy and average population levels of the species, can be used to identify the signature of enemy–victim interactions.