IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Foose, T.J. | |
| Interactive management of small wild and captive populations | |
| 1993 Conference Proceeding | |
Conservation strategies for endangered species must be based on viable populations. While it is necessary, it is no longer sufficient merely to protect endangered species in situ. They must also be managed. The reason management will be necessary is that the populations that can be maintained of many species under the pressures of habitat degradation and unsustainable exploitation will be small, i.e. a few tens to a few hundreds (in some cases, even a few thousands) depending on the species. As such, these populations are endangered by a number of environmental, demographic, and genetic problems that are stochastic in nature and that can cause extinction. Small populations can be devastated by catastrophe (Weather disasters, epidemics, exploitation) as exemplified by the case of the black footed-ferret and the Puerto Rican parrot, or be decimated by less drastic fluctuations in the environment. Demographically, small populations can be disrupted by random fluctuations in survivorship and fertility. Genetically, small populations lose diversity needed for fitness and adaptability. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |