Final answer:
Local populations divided due to environmental heterogeneity are referred to as metapopulations. These sets of local populations are interconnected by dispersal, which influences their survival and conservation. Heterogeneity in the landscape can affect the persistence of these local populations within the overall metapopulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a result of environmental heterogeneity, most populations are divided into smaller populations, referred to as local metapopulations.
Metapopulations are sets of local populations that are separated by space but are connected by the dispersal of organisms or genes among them. Local extinctions in these populations may occur, but the overall structure of a metapopulation usually allows for the recolonization and persistence of species. Metapopulations can exhibit varying degrees of interaction, ranging from a mainland-island model with a central population supporting smaller satellite populations, to a more balanced system where all local populations are prone to extinction and recolonization.
Conservation efforts can benefit from recognizing metapopulation dynamics, allowing for strategies that ensure genetic flow and species survival across fragmented landscapes. When considering topology, populations in topographically heterogeneous fragments have been noted to have a lower likelihood of extinction as opposed to populations in uniform landscapes, as this heterogeneity offers more refuge areas with suitable conditions.