Viable Populations for Conservation

by Edited by Michael E. Soulé

• ISBN13: 9780521333900
• ISBN10: 0521333903
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1987-08-28
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

What is the minimum viable population (MVP) of a particular species? Besides the obvious implications for conservation, especially of endangered species, this question raises important issues in population biology. MVP obviously varies with demographic, life history and environmental factors, but also depends upon genetic load and genetic variability. This book addresses the most recent research in the rapidly developing integration of conservation biology with population biology. Chapters consider the roles of demographic and environmental variability; the effects of latitude, body size, patchiness and metapopulation structure; the implications of catastrophes; and the relevance of effective population size on inbreeding and natural selection. Other topics addressed include the role of decision theory in clarifying management alternatives for endangered species, and the opportunities for improved co-operation between agencies responsible for management. The book concludes with a forward-looking and plain-speaking summary on future research and its application for conservation practice.

Table of Contents

List of contributors	viii
Preface	xi
Introduction	1	(10)
Michael E. Soule
The demography of chance extinction	11	(24)
Daniel Goodman
Extinction models and mammalian persistence	35	(24)
Gary E. Belovsky
Minimum viable population size in the presence of catastrophes	59	(10)
Warren J. Ewens
P. J. Brockwell
J.M. Gani
S. I. Resnick
Minimum viable populations: coping with uncertainty	69	(18)
Mark Shaffer
Effective population size, genetic variation, and their use in population management	87	(38)
Russell Lande
George F. Barrowclough
Spatial structure and population vulnerability	125	(16)
Michael E. Gilpin
Managing critically endangered species: the Sumatran rhino as a case study	141	(18)
Lynn A. Maguire
Ulysses S. Seal
Peter F. Brussard
The role of interagency cooperation in managing for viable populations	159	(16)
Hal Salwasser
Christine Schonewald-Cox
Richard Baker
Where do we go from here?	175	(10)
Michael E. Soule
Index	185