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Conservation of Small Populations02:04

Conservation of Small Populations

Small population sizes put a species at extreme risk of extinction due to a lack of variation, and a consequent decrease in adaptability. This weakens the chances of survival under pressures such as climate change, competition from other species, or new diseases. Large populations are more likely to survive pressures such as these, as such populations are more likely to harbor individuals that have genetic variants that are adaptive under new stresses. Small populations are much less likely to...
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Distribution and Dispersion00:54

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Development of New Methods for Quantifying Fish Density Using Underwater Stereo-video Tools
09:32

Development of New Methods for Quantifying Fish Density Using Underwater Stereo-video Tools

Published on: November 20, 2017

Range, population abundance and conservation.

J H Lawton1

  • 1John Lawton is at the NERC Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College, Silwood Park, Ascot, UK SL5 7PY.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Organism distribution and abundance show consistent patterns, including range size correlations and edge declines. Further research is needed to explain these ecological phenomena and inform species conservation efforts.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Biodiversity Science
  • Conservation Biology

Background:

  • Documented patterns reveal relationships between species' range sizes and population abundances.
  • Observed trends include declining occupancy and density from range centers to edges, with abundance peaks in core areas.
  • Phylogenetic influences on range size and abundance are noted but require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize documented patterns in organism distribution and abundance.
  • To highlight the need for further research into the generality and explanations of these ecological patterns.
  • To underscore the practical importance of understanding these patterns for species management and conservation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature synthesis of documented ecological patterns.
  • Analysis of correlations between range size and population abundance.
  • Examination of spatial distribution of species occupancy and density across ranges.
  • Review of phylogenetic effects on ecological traits.

Main Results:

  • A broad positive correlation exists between species' range sizes and population abundances.
  • Species' range edges exhibit decreased site occupancy and population densities compared to core areas.
  • Phylogenetic effects on range size and abundance are observed but require more extensive documentation.

Conclusions:

  • Ecological patterns in distribution and abundance are established but lack universal explanations.
  • These patterns have significant theoretical and practical implications for species conservation and management.
  • Further research is crucial to confirm the generality and elucidate the mechanisms behind these observed ecological phenomena.