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Conservation of Small Populations

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...

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).

Gene Flow

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.

Genetic Drift

Genetic Drift

Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.

Threats to Biodiversity

Threats to Biodiversity

There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...

What is Population Genetics?

What is Population Genetics?

A population is composed of members of the same species that simultaneously live and interact in the same area. When individuals in a population breed, they pass down their genes to their offspring. Many of these genes are polymorphic, meaning that they occur in multiple variants. Such variations of a gene are referred to as alleles. The collective set of all the alleles within a population is known as the gene pool.

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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

A Noninvasive Hair Sampling Technique to Obtain High Quality DNA from Elusive Small Mammals

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Published on: March 13, 2011

Roads, Soil, Snow, and Topography Influence Genetic Connectivity: A Machine Learning Approach for a Peripheral

Eric C Palm^1,2, Erin L Landguth¹, Karina Lamy³

¹School of Public and Community Health Sciences University of Montana Missoula Montana USA.

Ecology and Evolution

|April 20, 2026

Summary

Understanding landscape barriers is key for conserving American badgers (Taxidea taxus jeffersonii). Major roads, steep slopes, and certain soils impede movement, while milder winters and specific soil types facilitate badger dispersal across British Columbia.

Keywords:

Taxidea taxus jeffersonii corridor analysis landscape genetics machine learning peripheral population spatial cross validation

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Published on: December 7, 2021

Area of Science:

Conservation Biology
Population Genetics
Landscape Ecology

Background:

Effective conservation of peripheral populations hinges on understanding landscape influences on dispersal.
Predicting landscape connectivity is crucial for managing spatially distinct populations.

Purpose of the Study:

To model landscape resistance and genetic connectivity for the western American badger (Taxidea taxus jeffersonii) population.
To identify landscape features that impede or facilitate gene flow in southern British Columbia.

Main Methods:

Utilized 116 genetic samples genotyped at 14 microsatellite loci.
Employed gradient boosting machine models within a corridor-based approach.
Predicted genetic distances based on landscape variables across ~170,000 km².

Main Results:

Genetic similarity was detected up to ~110 km, with lowest gene diversity in the Cariboo region and highest in the Okanagan.
Colluvial soil parent material, geographic distance, steep slopes, and major roads significantly impeded genetic connectivity.
Organic and fluvial soil parent materials and areas with less winter snow cover facilitated connectivity.

Conclusions:

Predictive maps of landscape resistance and connectivity can inform conservation strategies.
Management actions like habitat protection and road underpass placement can promote genetic flow for American badgers.
Identifying landscape barriers is essential for the long-term viability of peripheral badger populations.