Ecologists Measure Population Characteristics Over Several Years in a Metapopulation

Multiple Choice

Ecologists measure population characteristics over several years in a metapopulation of insects.They find that, in Population A, birth rates exceed death rates.In Populations B and C, death rates exceed birth rates.The sizes of Populations A and C remain relatively stable, whereas Population B declines and eventually goes extinct.How could these three populations best be described?

A) All three are sink populations.
B) All three are source populations.
C) Population A is a source population; Populations B and C are sink populations.
D) Populations A and B are source populations; Population C is a sink population.
E) Populations A and C are source populations; Population B is a sink population.