The Influence Of Habitat Destruction On Metapopulation Viability And Optimal Number Of Patches

Cellular Automata simulation is used to investigate the effect of migration, species mortality in unsuitable patches, the third type of spatial correlation and habitat destruction pattern on the viability of a metapopulation and its optimal number of patches. We demonstrate that, for competitive metapopulation, when the total habitat carrying capacity is unchanged:(1)If few individuals are lost in migration, increasing migration rate (or decreasing migration death rate) while the degree of aggregation of suitable habitats increasing will favor species permanence.(2)Increasing disturbance area will decrease the optimal number of patches.(3)Increasing species mortality in unsuitable patches or increasing the degree of aggregation will increase the optimal number of patches.For prey metapopulation. when three species coexist:(1) The effect of habitat destruction on prey population is contrary to the effect of aggregation degree of suitable habitats-while increasing habitat destruction is unfavorable to a prey population, increasing the degree of aggregation favors it.(2) Moderate aggregation degree increase can improve mobility, which favors every species. However, too high aggregation degree has a same effect of habitat destruction, which is harmful for some prey while beneficial to the whole system. These conclusions provide a theoretical basis to species conservation and the optimal design of nature reserves.