Species-Level Conservation

This chapter discusses issues related to the conservation of small populations, which are a common target for species-level conservation. It looks at the challenges that small populations face, before considering some ways to estimate population size and model how we expect populations to grow or change over time. Estimating and predicting population size can be crucial for planning conservation actions and making decisions to protect a given population. The chapter then introduces the concept of minimal population size and uses a simple model to conduct a population viability analysis that aims to evaluate a population's long-term viability. Finally, it studies the trade-offs of any species-level conservation effort.