Source–Sink Dynamics
Population persistence through dispersal from productive sources to marginal sink habitats
Source Habitat
Birth rate b₁:
0.60
Death rate d₁:
0.20
Carrying capacity K₁:
200
Sink Habitat
Birth rate b₂:
0.15
Death rate d₂:
0.30
Dispersal
Dispersal rate m:
0.10
Restart
Statistics
Source r₁ = b₁-d₁
+0.40
Sink r₂ = b₂-d₂
-0.15
Source population
—
Sink population
—
Sinks cannot sustain populations alone (r < 0) but persist via immigration from sources. Pulliam 1988: critical dispersal rate rescues sink populations.