Using community viability analysis to identify fragile systems and keystone species
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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
1Department of Biology, IFM, Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden. boebe@ifm.liu.se
Abstract:
Owing to interdependences among species in ecological communities, the loss of one species can trigger a cascade of secondary extinctions with potentially dramatic effects on the functioning and stability of the community. It is, therefore, important to assess the risk and likely extent of secondary extinctions. Community viability analysis is a new technique that can be used to accomplish this goal. The analysis can also be used to identify fragile community structures and keystone species and, hence, to provide guidelines for conservation priorities. Here, we describe the principles underlying community viability analysis and review its contributions to our understanding of the response of ecological communities to species loss.
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