Question

Which is an example of a metapopulation?

I. Insects live in isolated patches of forest surrounded by agriculture. Sometimes the population in a patch goes extinct, but eventually the insects recolonize that patch.
II. A species of bird is found in Canada during the summer. In the fall, the species migrates to the Caribbean and spends the winter there. In the spring it returns to Canada.
III. A species of fish lives in a fast-flowing cold river. A dam is constructed on the river, causing the fish to go extinct because of warmer water.

Answer 1

The example that best represents a metapopulation is when insects live in isolated patches of forest surrounded by agriculture. Sometimes the population in a patch goes extinct, but eventually the insects recolonize that patch.

Step-by-step explanation:

A metapopulation is a set of subdivided populations that are interconnected by occasional movements of individuals among them. From the given options, the example that best represents a metapopulation is I. Insects live in isolated patches of forest surrounded by agriculture. Sometimes the population in a patch goes extinct, but eventually the insects recolonize that patch. In this example, the insects are found in separate patches of forests, and although the population in a patch may go extinct, the insects eventually recolonize the patch through occasional movements.