Abstract: A metapopulation refers to a set of local populations within some larger area , where typically migration from one local population to at least some other patches are possible. As one of the three main approaches to spatial ecology , metapopulation biology is concerned with the dynamic consequences of migration among local populations and the conditions of regional persistence of species with unstable local populations. This article comprehensively reviews the theoretical framework and the spread of the metapopulation concept to conservation biology and applications.