Optimal Solution

This development could result in the isolation of one of the ponds, which would effectively eliminate migration with the rest of the complex. Fragmentation via the building of dwellings would thus reduce the ‘r’ values of the isolated population. Over time, if the pond maintains a negative growth rate without the possibility of supplementing the sink population with immigrants from nearby source populations, it would result in local extirpation.

With option 3, the largest population gets cut off from the rest of the complex. This pond is a major source of emigrants for Ponds 1 and 2. As such, when the pond is cut off, All three populations are impacted Focusing development on either of the two smaller ponds, while having devastating impacts to that population, don’t prevent migration between the major source population in the metapopulation with the rest of the complex. As such, the optimal solution is Option 2.