Journal
ECOLOGY LETTERS
Volume 16, Issue 2, Pages 242-251Publisher
WILEY-BLACKWELL
DOI: 10.1111/ele.12035
Keywords
Comparative studies; intraspecific variation; mammalia; PanTHERIA; Red List; taxonomically informed regression; vulnerability
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Anthropogenic degradation of the world's ecosystems is leading to a widespread and accelerating loss of biodiversity. However, not all species respond equally to existing threats, raising the question: what makes a species more vulnerable to extinction? We propose that higher intraspecific variability may reduce the risk of extinction, as different individuals and populations within a species may respond differently to occurring threats. Supporting this prediction, our results show that mammalian species with more variable adult body masses, litter sizes, sexual maturity ages and population densities are less vulnerable to extinction. Our findings reveal the role of local variation among populations, particularly of large mammals, as a buffering mechanism against extinction, and emphasise the importance of considering trait variation in comparative analyses and conservation management.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available