BIOL 2060 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Population Ecology, Habitat Fragmentation, Inbreeding Depression
25 Feb 2016
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Document Summary
Population ecology has focus on abundant species mostly: many species, however, are rare or endangered. Rarity might be a factor limiting growth of small populations. Conservation ecology aims at understanding: decline in abundance, range contraction, possible extinction, human vs. natural threats. Conservation efforts aim at reducing the causes of decline and enable recovery. Michael soule father of conservation ecology: first to focus on rare species to study. Low or declining density makes populations vulnerable to extinction. Northern right whales: overhunted to ~60 individuals. Now protected, population has increased to ~350 since 1936. Whooping cranes: near extinction in 1941 with only ~15 individuals left. Cod in atlantic canada: currently, a commercial fishery moratorium is in effect (fish barred from being fished) Now showing slow signs of recovery moratorium still in effect. Research found that the population had seen a 95% decline from its carrying capacity due to fishing.
