Minimum Sizes for Viable Population and Conservation Biology

Abstract

Minimum viable population size implies that there is some threshold for the number of individuals that will ensure at some acceptable level of risk that a population will persist in a viable state for a given interval of time. Fundamental to this concept is the effective population size. The so-called 50/500 rules have been criticized and a reliable minimum size for viable population is hard to obtain. However, this concept is indispensable in ex situ conservation programs like captive breeding. Minimum area requirement can be deduced for reserve plans. Discussions generated by minimum viable population size concept give insights into conservation biology.

Keywords: Minimum viable population, Conservation, Effective population size

doi:10.3126/on.v1i1.297

Our Nature (2003) 1: 3-9