source-sink dynamics

Source-sink dynamics describe how populations of organisms move within a landscape based on habitat quality. “Sources” are high-quality areas where birth rates exceed deaths, producing a surplus of individuals that can disperse. “Sinks” are lower-quality habitats where death rates exceed births, relying on migrants from sources to maintain their populations. This movement helps balance populations across the landscape. Essentially, sources support both their own growth and the persistence of sink areas, which would otherwise decline without incoming individuals. This concept highlights the importance of high-quality habitats for sustaining overall species populations.