Abstract
Environmental variation in time and space generates complex patterns in the spatial structure of temporally covarying populations. Accounting for spatial population structure is important for sustainable management and harvest, but there is a need for a better understanding of the many mechanisms affecting the spatial structure of populations. In the large-scale research project SUSTAIN, detailed long-term data from several taxa within the boreal and Arctic ecosystems were used to address key research questions about spatial population structure. Here, we synthesise the main findings from these studies. Because nearby populations experience similar environmental variation, populations close to each other show more correlated dynamics than those at greater distances. However, several mechanisms can affect the extent of such spatial population synchrony, and we point to some similarities across systems that can explain the observed discrepancy between the spatial structure of the environment and that of population dynamics. We discuss the consequences of these findings for the practical management of species in a changing environment and the need for further research on how populations and ecosystems are affected by the spatial structure of the environment.
Highlights
The great majority of species exist in several populations or subpopulations spread out in space
The emphasis is on how intrinsic features of subpopulations, such as their size and rates of emigration and immigration, affect local and regional population dynamics (Hanski 1999), whereas spatial population synchrony theory typically emphasises the role of extrinsic factors and the environment
The results show that the spatial structure of the environment, the strength of the relationship between environmental variation and population dynamics, and the extent of heterogeneity in population responses to environmental variation must be assessed to understand how weather synchronises population dynamics
Summary
The great majority of species exist in several populations or subpopulations spread out in space. Synchrony in population dynamics is often weaker and has a shorter spatial scale than synchrony in the environment (Benton et al 2001, Koenig 2001, Hansen et al 2020) This can occur because central assumptions in the Moran theorem, such as the assumption that log-linear density dependence is similar among populations (Royama 1992), rarely are met in natural systems. Local and regional extinction risks are affected by the spatial heterogeneity in environmental variation (Heino et al 1997) This occurs because when environmental fluctuations are correlated over large distances, population fluctuations will tend to be synchronised over similar distances (Ranta et al 1997, Pascual & Levin 1999).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
