Because there is more habitat in this simulation, the population size of the rats will be larger than in the 4-patch habitat, but you can compare the shapes of the population vs. time graphs between the two simulations. Now you will examine a landscape in which one patch is invulnerable to extinction. Two very large tailings were always occupied, but smaller tailings around the larger ones were only occupied during some of the population surveys. Tailings which were over 300 m. from the large piles were almost never occupied. In this simulation, the rats can only disperse to the islands along the corridors.
Press go and begin the simulation.
Notice which islands are usually occupied and which are almost never occupied. You can change the parameters within this simulation using the same controls as in the previous 2. The final simulation you will examine represents several supopulations connected by dispersal corridors. The chipmunks do not disperse through the fields, but only along fences which connect some of the patches of woods. In this simulation, there are 9 habitat patches connected by corridors.