Covergent evolution is defined as the process whereby distantly related organisms independently evolve similar traits to adapt to similar necessities. An example of this is flyingsquirrels and sugargliders. They converged on gliding as a way to travel from tree to tree.
Divergent evolution is defined as what occurs when two groups of the same species evolve different traits within those groups in order to accommodate for differing environmental and social pressures. An example of this is the Darwin finches.
A metapopulation is a “population of populations“ distributed in discrete habitat patches that are linked by the occasional dispersal.
