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Abstract
The various habitats inhabited by a given species are never of the same quality. When
demographic models take into account this habitat heterogeneity, the source-sink concept
naturally emerges: a local demographic surplus arises in good quality habitats (source),
and a local demographic deficit occurs in habitats of poor quality (sink). Within
a landscape, a permanent migration of propagules or individuals from source to sink
habitats may lead to a stabilization of the overall demographic system. This simple
situation, explored in the recent literature, has surprising properties. In particular,
it requires a change in our view of classical concepts such as ecological niche and
carrying capacity, it can explain the existence and persistence of local maladaptation
and it can improve conservation practice.