River and Stream Continuity Project

Barrier Impacts–
Disruption of Metapopulation Dynamics

Decreased animal movement can undermine processes that help maintain regional populations over time. Barriers to movement can block the exchange of individuals among populations, eliminating gene flow and disrupting the ability of “source” populations to support declining populations nearby. Barriers to dispersing individuals also eliminate opportunities to re-colonize vacant habitat after local extinction events.

 

 

 

 

 

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New England Regional Water Quality logoThis material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department ofAgriculture, under Agreement No. 2004-51130-03108.