Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Coordinates and Map Projections01:29

Coordinates and Map Projections

Coordinates and map projections are essential tools in accurately representing the Earth's surface for various applications, ranging from navigation to spatial analysis. The latitude and longitude coordinate system is a universally recognized framework for defining locations. Latitude specifies the distance of a point north or south of the equator, measured in degrees from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles. Longitude indicates a location's position east or west of the prime meridian,...
Plotting of Topographic Maps01:29

Plotting of Topographic Maps

Topographic maps represent the Earth's surface features using contour lines, which connect points of equal elevation to create a two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional terrain. Creating a topographic map requires a systematic approach.Begin by plotting a scaled grid and marking intersections corresponding to the survey's elevation data points. Assign elevation values at these intersections to build the base map. Next, determine contour levels using a consistent contour interval,...
Areas Within Irregular Boundaries01:26

Areas Within Irregular Boundaries

Calculating areas within irregular boundaries, such as along rivers or curved roads, is crucial in various fields, including surveying, engineering, and environmental management. Surveyors often begin by creating a traverse, a connected series of straight lines approximating the area's boundary. The coordinates of each traverse point are essential for calculating the enclosed area. The double meridian distance formula is a widely used technique for this purpose. This method utilizes the...
Simpson's Rule I01:26

Simpson's Rule I

Simpson’s Rule is a numerical integration method used to approximate the value of a definite integral when an exact antiderivative is difficult or impossible to obtain. The method estimates area by fitting a unique parabola through three equally spaced points on a curve and then integrating the resulting quadratic function over the interval. By using only a small number of sampled values, Simpson’s Rule provides an accurate approximation for many smoothly varying functions.A common practical...
Midpoint Rule01:20

Midpoint Rule

Approximating areas under curved boundaries is a common problem in applied mathematics, particularly when an exact calculation is difficult or impractical. One effective numerical method for this purpose is the Midpoint Rule, which provides an estimate of the area under a curve by using rectangular approximations over a specified interval.Description of the Midpoint RuleThe Midpoint Rule begins by dividing the given interval into a number of equal subintervals. For each subinterval, the...
Topographic Surveying and Contours01:29

Topographic Surveying and Contours

Topographic surveying is critical for documenting the Earth's surface, focusing on capturing elevations, slopes, and natural and man-made features. It is essential in construction planning, water resource management, and land-use analysis. The primary outcome of such surveys is a topographic map, which uses contour lines to visually represent the shape and slope of the terrain, providing valuable insights into the landscape's characteristics.Contour lines are fundamental to understanding the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Generation Length: Often Ignored and Sometimes Misunderstood.

Evolutionary applications·2026
Same author

Fifty Years of Conservation Genetics: A Personal Perspective.

Molecular ecology·2025
Same author

What does effective population size tell us about loss of allelic variation?

Evolutionary applications·2024
Same author

Planned cull endangers Swedish wolf population.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2022
Same author

Whole-genome resequencing confirms reproductive isolation between sympatric demes of brown trout (Salmo trutta) detected with allozymes.

Molecular ecology·2021
Same author

Author Correction: Dense sampling of bird diversity increases power of comparative genomics.

Nature·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide
07:13

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

Published on: November 29, 2024

How does the 50/500 rule apply to MVPs?

Ian G Jamieson1, Fred W Allendorf

  • 1Allan Wilson Centre, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. ian.jamieson@otago.ac.nz

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|August 8, 2012
PubMed
Summary

The 50/500 rule in conservation is often misunderstood. Applying the short-term need for 50 individuals to avoid inbreeding to the long-term goal of 500 for evolutionary potential can misguide extinction risk assessments.

Area of Science:

  • Conservation Biology
  • Population Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The 50/500 rule is a guideline for minimum viable effective population size (N(e)).
  • Recent literature shows confusion regarding the application of the 500 N(e) threshold for extinction risk and conservation prioritization.
  • This confusion stems from conflating short-term (N(e)=50) and long-term (N(e)=500) genetic considerations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the correct application of the 50/500 rule in conservation biology.
  • To address the confusion arising from the misapplication of genetic principles for minimum viable population (MVP) thresholds.
  • To highlight the potential for misleading conclusions regarding extinction risk assessments based solely on genetic arguments.

Main Methods:

More Related Videos

Use of Principal Components for Scaling Up Topographic Models to Map Soil Redistribution and Soil Organic Carbon
09:44

Use of Principal Components for Scaling Up Topographic Models to Map Soil Redistribution and Soil Organic Carbon

Published on: October 16, 2018

A Standardized Protocol for Functional Motor Mapping Using Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
10:27

A Standardized Protocol for Functional Motor Mapping Using Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Published on: February 27, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide
07:13

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

Published on: November 29, 2024

Use of Principal Components for Scaling Up Topographic Models to Map Soil Redistribution and Soil Organic Carbon
09:44

Use of Principal Components for Scaling Up Topographic Models to Map Soil Redistribution and Soil Organic Carbon

Published on: October 16, 2018

A Standardized Protocol for Functional Motor Mapping Using Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
10:27

A Standardized Protocol for Functional Motor Mapping Using Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Published on: February 27, 2026

  • Conceptual analysis of the 50/500 rule's genetic underpinnings.
  • Review of recent literature on population viability and conservation genetics.
  • Distinction between short-term inbreeding avoidance and long-term evolutionary potential.

    • Main Results:

    • The confusion in applying the 50/500 rule arises from incorrectly merging the genetic requirement of N(e)=50 for short-term survival (avoiding inbreeding depression) with the N(e)=500 guideline for long-term evolutionary capacity.
    • This conflation can lead to underestimation of population sizes needed for long-term viability.
    • Genetic arguments alone may be insufficient for setting MVP thresholds, particularly for species requiring larger populations (thousands) for sustained evolutionary potential.

    Conclusions:

    • Clarifying the distinct roles of N(e)=50 and N(e)=500 is crucial for accurate extinction risk assessment.
    • Conservation strategies must differentiate between immediate genetic health and long-term adaptive capacity.
    • Relying solely on genetic metrics without considering ecological and demographic factors can lead to inadequate conservation planning for threatened species.