Small isolated populations suffer genetic and demographic decline
#00346
Very small and isolated animal populations lose genetic diversity and breeding opportunities, making chance events, skewed sex ratios and inbreeding more likely to prevent recovery.
Parent issue
#00341 Animal species are at imminent risk of extinction
Sustainable Development Goals
Location
Description
When an animal population becomes very small or isolated, survival can be constrained even after the original threat is reduced. Individuals may struggle to find mates, sex and age structures may become unbalanced, and chance deaths or reproductive failures can have population-level effects. Isolation can also reduce gene flow and genetic diversity.
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 4 calls for urgent recovery actions and maintenance and restoration of genetic diversity within and among native populations.
This issue covers genetic and demographic constraints created by very small population size. It does not prescribe captive breeding, translocation or reproductive technology.
Sub-issues
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