Coherence and Conservation

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 290; no. 5495; pp. 1360 - 1364
• Main Authors: David J. D. Earn, Levin, Simon A., Rohani, Pejman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 17.11.2000; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Animal populations; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation; Conservation of Natural Resources; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecological modeling; Ecosystem; Eigenvalues; Endangered species; Environmental conservation; Fecundity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Habitat conservation; Habitat partitioning (Biology); Habitat partitioning (Ecology); Logistic Models; Logistics; Mathematics; Metapopulation ecology; Methods; Models, Biological; Population Density; Population Dynamics; Probability; Public policy; Reproduction; Species extinction; Statistics; Wildlife conservation; United States; Ecological connectivity; Fluctuations; Metapopulation; Population extinction; Environmental policy; Population number; Habitat; Environmental management; Conservation corridor; Fragmentation; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.290.5495.1360

A principal aim of current conservation policy is to reduce the impact of habitat fragmentation. Conservation corridors may achieve this goal by facilitating movement among isolated patches, but there is a risk that increased connectivity could synchronize local population fluctuations (causing coherent oscillations) and thereby increase the danger of global extinction. We identify general conditions under which populations can or cannot undergo coherent oscillations, and we relate these conditions to local and global extinction probabilities. We suggest a simple method to explore the potential success of conservation corridors and, more generally, any manipulations of dispersal patterns that aim to protect threatened species or control pests.