METAPOPULATIONS - AN ARENA FOR LOCAL SPECIATION

Speciation in many groups of plants and animals is thought to occur in single, isolated populations. Recent investigations of metapopulation longevity and genetic structure indicate that metapopulations have de mographic and genetic properties which may be more conducive for local speciation than properties of single populations. It is argued that m etapopulations may persist longer than single populations, that the fo rmer may retain genetic Variation more readily, and that the former of fers more opportunity for genomic reorganization.