Variability in life-history and ecological traits is a buffer against extinction in mammals

Gonzalez-Suarez, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5069-8900 and Revilla, E. (2012) Variability in life-history and ecological traits is a buffer against extinction in mammals. Ecology Letters, 16 (2). pp. 242-251. ISSN 1461-0248 doi: 10.1111/ele.12035

Abstract/Summary

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.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/51705
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Publisher	Wiley
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