 When \(dP/dt=0\), the non-trivial equilibrium proportion is \(P^{*}= (c-e)/c = 1 - e/c\). Thus, if the equilibrium proportion is greater than zero, then the rate of colonization must be greater than the rate of extinction; namely, \(P^{*} &gt; 0\) just in case \(c &gt; e\). Given that this is a model, there are abstractions and idealizations including the assumptions that the local populations are identical in their chances of colonization and going extinct, rates of colonization and extinction are constants, and distance between patches does not matter. Models can be characterized by three features—their parameters, variables, and laws (Otto &amp; Day 2007). Parameters describe properties that are constant in value, variables describe properties that change, and laws simply describe relationships between parameters and variables. Thus, \(P\) is a variable, \(c\) and \(e\) are parameters, and the equation \(dP/dt = cP(1- P) - eP\) is law. Note that the term ‘law’ used by modelers is not necessarily the same as that of a law of nature. For example, a modeler might call the differential equation above a law even if it is not true of any metapopulation.