https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.14850
Set of local populations which interact via dispersing individuals among local populations; though not all local populations in a metapopulation need interact directly with every other local population.
Notes:
- A metapopulation is generally considered to consist of several distinct populations together with areas of suitable habitat which are currently unoccupied. Each population cycles in relative independence of the other populations and eventually goes extinct as a consequence of demographic stochasticity.
- Individuals may immigrate to a small metapopulation and rescue that population from extinction.
See: rescue effect