Meeting Abstract

P3.24  Tuesday, Jan. 6  Adam and Eve events: is successful population establishment from small introductions a myth? CORBETT, Alyssa H.; REED, J. Michael*; Tufts University; Tufts University michael.reed@tufts.edu

Although small populations are at high risk of extinction, there are regular reports in the scientific literature of purported small, isolated, persistent populations. One source of evidence of the viability of small populations comes from the successful introduction of species to areas outside their original range. We evaluated 23 purportedly successful establishments of bird populations from deliberate translocation of very few (<30) individuals that are reported in the scientific and secondary literature. We found that all but 2 of the claims were unsubstantiated, primarily due to a lack of evidence in original sources if the number of birds released and because of supplemental individuals from earlier releases, releases in nearby regions, and natural invasion. Our results support the general theory that small, isolated populations are at high risk of extinction, and they suggest that successful introductions using few individuals is actually rare. Because of the potential misuse of ecological results in land use planning, in particular assuming that small populations of vertebrates are viable, we suggest that a high standard be set for asserting the viability of small, isolated populations.