Minimum viable population sizes and global extinction risk are unrelated

Ecology Letters
Barry W BrookCorey J A Bradshaw

Abstract

Theoretical and empirical work has shown that once reduced in size and geographical range, species face a considerably elevated risk of extinction. We predict minimum viable population sizes (MVP) for 1198 species based on long-term time-series data and model-averaged population dynamics simulations. The median MVP estimate was 1377 individuals (90% probability of persistence over 100 years) but the overall distribution was wide and strongly positively skewed. Factors commonly cited as correlating with extinction risk failed to predict MVP but were able to predict successfully the probability of World Conservation Union Listing. MVPs were most strongly related to local environmental variation rather than a species' intrinsic ecological and life history attributes. Further, the large variation in MVP across species is unrelated to (or at least dwarfed by) the anthropogenic threats that drive the global biodiversity crisis by causing once-abundant species to decline.

References

Nov 15, 2000·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·A PurvisG M Mace
Nov 21, 2000·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·A PurvisG M Mace
Nov 9, 2001·Nature·T M Blackburn, R P Duncan
Mar 16, 2002·Science·Bernt-Erik SaetherErik Matthysen
Jul 18, 2003·Nature·Peter Turchin
Jul 1, 1986·Parasitology Today·G R Singleton, D M Spratt
Jan 27, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Janne S KotiahoJussi Päivinen
Apr 9, 2005·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·S H M ButchartG M Mace
Jul 1, 1993·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·L Nunney, K A Campbell

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 4, 2008·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Guy CowlishawNick J B Isaac
Oct 1, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Jonas Knape, Perry de Valpine
Sep 11, 2012·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Howard V Cornell
Jan 5, 2008·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Luigi MaioranoLuigi Boitani
Mar 30, 2010·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Navjot S SodhiBarry W Brook
Jan 22, 2011·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Juliano Sarmento CabralFrank M Schurr
Feb 21, 2008·PloS One·Navjot S SodhiCorey J A Bradshaw
Aug 19, 2010·Ecology·Stephen D GregoryFranck Courchamp
Aug 8, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Konstantin PopadinKonstantin Gunbin
Oct 18, 2011·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Barry W BrookRichard Frankham
Apr 5, 2011·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Curtis H FlatherPhilip A Stephens
Aug 31, 2007·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Patrik KarlssonAnnie Jonsson
May 1, 2008·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·George F Wilhere
Apr 19, 2007·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Corey J A BradshawMark G Meekan
Mar 6, 2013·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Kevin T ShoemakerJames P Gibbs
Jan 9, 2013·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Maile C Neel, Judy P Che-Castaldo
Sep 8, 2012·Ecology and Evolution·Salvador Herrando-PérezCorey J A Bradshaw
Mar 13, 2014·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Kevin T ShoemakerJames P Gibbs
Mar 13, 2014·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·J Michael Reed, Earl D McCoy
Apr 24, 2016·Mathematical Biosciences·Ricardo Castro-SantisWalter Chambio
Mar 9, 2017·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Sean C AndersonNicholas K Dulvy
Apr 26, 2017·Insects·Steven R Sims
Jan 18, 2018·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Jelle P HilbersMark A J Huijbregts
Jul 12, 2008·Ecology Letters·Jana C Vamosi, John R U Wilson
Dec 8, 2015·Scientific Reports·Guangshun JiangJianzhang Ma
Oct 27, 2017·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Casey Youngflesh, Heather J Lynch
Dec 11, 2019·Nature Ecology & Evolution·T J Clark, Angela D Luis
Oct 19, 2019·Science·Shane A BlowesMaria Dornelas
Sep 30, 2016·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Jelle P HilbersMark A J Huijbregts
Sep 4, 2020·Nature Communications·Gergana N DaskalovaJohn L Godlee
Aug 28, 2018·Global Ecology and Biogeography : a Journal of Macroecology·Maria DornelasThomas Hickler
Feb 3, 2021·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Brian Tilston SmithMichael G Harvey
Jun 12, 2017·Theriogenology·S Villaverde-MorcilloJ Santiago-Moreno
Jun 19, 2021·Ecology and Evolution·Nathan F WilliamsChristopher F Clements
Oct 13, 2021·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Karen B Strier

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.