Effects of colonization asymmetries on metapopulation persistence.

Theor Popul Biol

Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Published: November 2010

AI Article Synopsis

  • Ocean currents, winds, and river networks create uneven patterns in re-colonization between habitat patches, impacting metapopulation survival.
  • The study examines three models (island, stepping stone, distance-dependent) focusing on how dispersal strength and connectivity asymmetry affect persistence.
  • Significant reductions in viability occur when directional bias in dispersal exceeds 25%, while strong local connectivity enhances persistence over circulating systems, with weak effects observed in well-connected metapopulations.

Article Abstract

Ocean currents, prevailing winds, and the hierarchical structures of river networks are known to create asymmetries in re-colonization between habitat patches. The impacts of such asymmetries on metapopulation persistence are seldom considered, especially rarely in theoretical studies. Considering three classical models (the island, the stepping stone and the distance-dependent model), we explore how metapopulation persistence is affected by (i) asymmetry in dispersal strength, in which the colonization rate between two patches differs in direction, and (ii) asymmetry in connectivity, in which the overall colonization pattern displays asymmetry (circulating or dendritic networks). Viability can be drastically reduced when directional bias in dispersal strength is higher than 25%. Re-colonization patterns that allow for strong local connectivity provide the highest persistence compared to systems that allow circulation. Finally, asymmetry has relatively weak effects when metapopulations maintain strong general connectivity.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tpb.2010.06.007DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

metapopulation persistence
12
asymmetries metapopulation
8
dispersal strength
8
effects colonization
4
colonization asymmetries
4
persistence
4
persistence ocean
4
ocean currents
4
currents prevailing
4
prevailing winds
4

Similar Publications

The Metapopulation Bridge to Macroevolutionary Speciation Rates: A Conceptual Framework and Empirical Test.

Ecol Lett

January 2025

Museum of Zoology & Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

Whether large-scale variation in lineage diversification rates can be predicted by species properties at the population level is a key unresolved question at the interface between micro- and macroevolution. All else being equal, species with biological attributes that confer metapopulation stability should persist more often at timescales relevant to speciation and so give rise to new (incipient) forms that share these biological traits. Here, we develop a framework for testing the relationship between metapopulation properties related to persistence and phylogenetic speciation rates.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) has a complex infection ecology and is difficult to control in many countries, including Ireland. For many years, the Irish national bTB eradication programme relied on cattle-based control measures, including test-and-removal with related movement restrictions. In the early 2000s, badger culling was added as a part of the control measure in the national programme.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, putting reef-building corals at risk of mass mortality and increased selective pressure.
  • A new eco-evolutionary metapopulation model shows that while corals can somewhat adapt, they will face significant population declines from heatwaves over the next few decades.
  • To help sensitive coral populations survive beyond 2050, it's crucial to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to 2°C instead of the projected 3°C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Populations of forest trees exhibit large temporal fluctuations, but little is known about the synchrony of these fluctuations across space, including their sign, magnitude, causes and characteristic scales. These have important implications for metapopulation persistence and theoretical community ecology. Using data from permanent forest plots spanning local, regional and global spatial scales, we measured spatial synchrony in tree population growth rates over sub-decadal and decadal timescales and explored the relationship of synchrony to geographical distance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Humans have significantly altered river networks, leading to changes in habitat quality, migration barriers, and pollution, which affect aquatic life and restoration efforts.
  • This study focused on the genetic structure of two pollution-tolerant isopod species in the Emscher catchment in Germany, revealing a strong metapopulation structure with isolated populations and high genetic diversity.
  • The findings indicate that while some migration barriers exist, other factors such as adaptation and species interactions also influence genetic structure, highlighting the need for detailed genetic analysis in environmental studies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!