Levins patch occupancy and persistence
A simple internally colonized metapopulation tracks the occupied fraction p of equivalent habitat patches.
Key knowledge
A simple internally colonized metapopulation tracks the occupied fraction p of equivalent habitat patches. Colonization c p(1−p) and local extinction e p give dp/dt=c p(1−p)−e p. For c>e and initially positive occupancy, the deterministic model approaches p*=1−e/c; extinction is the attracting state when c≤e and e>0.
Values and equations
dp/dt=c p(1−p)−e p; p*=1−e/c when c>e
- p,p*
- occupied fraction and positive equilibrium occupied fraction 1
- c,e
- colonization coefficient and local extinction rate time-unit⁻¹
- t
- time in the rate coefficients' unit time unit
Conditions and scope
- Constant continuous-time rate coefficients c>0,e>0, many equivalent equally connected patches and rapid within-patch dynamics; 0≤p≤1.
- No external colonist reservoir is assumed. Patch heterogeneity, dispersal geometry, rescue effects, environmental variation and finite-patch stochastic extinction alter persistence; positive deterministic equilibrium does not guarantee perpetual empirical survival.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Read equivalent-patch/internal-colonization assumptions and the differential-equation equilibrium. Defined c,e as continuous-time rates instead of mixing the slides' per-step probability wording with an ODE; equilibrium/stability follows from factoring p[c−e−cp]. Excluded universal claims about inevitable regional extinction.
2026-10-10 · Independent AI editorial review: All six exact compact records, equations/variables/conditions and eighteen origin edges, plus actual bounded primary sections/abstracts listed below. This is independent AI editorial review, not laboratory validation or whole-Biology revalidation. Receipt: biology-quantitative-independent-review.1.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- uni-bio-levins-patch-occupancy
- Revision
- core.1
- Structured reference record
- University core expansion