Population Viability Analysis.
Edited by Steven R Beissinger and Dale R Mullough

Abstract

PREDICTING the persistence of small populations is a key issue in population ecology and conservation biology. A large and increasing number of species are threatened with extinction from factors associated with humans (such as habitat loss, over-exploitation, pollution and introduced species) and stochastic hazards (demographic and environmental fluctuations, natural catastrophes, inbreeding and loss of genetic variation). In order to address such problems in a systematic way, the process of “population viability analysis” (PVA) has been developed over the past few decades, and has now become one of the major unifying disciplines in conservation biology. PVA is a technique, usually employing complex computer simulations, for predicting the future fate of wildlife populations and comparing competing management options, based on the integrated modelling of demographic, environmental, genetic and habitat-related information. Using PVA allows time, money and onground action to be rationally and efficiently allocated.