Zur Bedeutung Populationsbiologischer Forschung für den Speziellen Naturschutz

Abstract

On the use of plant population biology for nature conservation. — The literature concerned with the population biology of endangered species is reviewed. In spite of the increasing numbers of papers published on topics such as life history, regeneration, competition, and demographic models only little is contributed to aspects of nature conservation. Nevertheless, some papers showed that the population view of vegetation dynamics may be of great promise for research engaged in problems of nature management. Important questions such as the expected development of local populations, the size of the minimal viable population, and the abiotic and biotic factors controlling population growth may be answered. Thus, population biology may be a powerful instrument for the development of strategies for nature conservation.