Fragmented populations linked through dispersal constitute:
“A metapopulation” for fragmented populations linked through dispersal constitute. This relationship follows from the ecological mechanism represented by the terms in the item, not merely from an association between their names. Interpretation must distinguish absolute population change from a per-capita rate and must state the time interval and population boundary. Age structure, dispersal, environmental variation, and delayed responses can all make observed trajectories depart from a simple model. The remaining alternatives—“A deme”, “A single large population”, “An isolated group”—refer to
Ref: Campbell Biology, Urry et al., 12th Ed., Unit 8 Ecology
