About Population Biology
Population biology is an interdisciplinary field integrating concepts of demography, population genetics, ecology and evolution as it considers population dynamics for a species. Lincoln Park Zoo supports the application of population biology theories to the management of zoo populations because scientifically managed populations are more likely to be healthy and persist into the future.
Applied population biology approaches are also becoming more and more important for wild populations as they become smaller and more isolated. Because small populations are more at risk of decline and extinction due to demographic, genetic and environmental factors, understanding these factors is essential to diagnosing and mitigating a population’s risk of extinction.  Â
The ultimate goal of the zoo’s research in applied population biology is to understand what puts animal populations at risk of extinction or decline as well as how management actions can impact that risk. This research occurs in field and captive populations, including:
- Conducting hypothesis-driven research to evaluate and adapt theoretical population biology for small populations
- Conducting risk assessments to identify and quantify threats to the survival of wild and captive animal populations
- Assessing and developing science-based approaches to reintroductions that can be used as a conservation strategy
- Developing software to promote the wide use of science-based concepts in the management of populations
About the Alexander Center
With a generous gift from John and Emily Alexander, the Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology was created in 2005 to focus the zoo’s research in small population biology. By integrating existing and new population biology programs into a single center, the zoo will encourage the development of collaborative projects among the zoo’s scientists as well as with other population biology experts and international conservation organizations.
The zoo also hosts the Population Management Center, which conducts population biology-based analyses for captive populations at North American zoos. These analyses are important tools in creating sustainable, healthy captive populations.
Researchers affiliated with population biology at the zoo are Joanne Earnhardt, Lisa Faust, Yee Man Bergstrom, Eric Lonsdorf, Sarah Long, Louise Bier, Carrie Schloss and Steve Thompson.
Recent projects within population biology include the Tarangire Elephant Project, ZooRisk: A Risk Assessment Tool for Captive Populations, the Avian Reintroduction Database, Data Standards for Studbook and Institutional Records, and the Channel Island Fox Reintroduction Project
Publications
Ballou, J., Lees, C., Faust, L., Long, S., Lynch, C., Bingaman-Lackey, L., and Foost, T. 2010. Demographic and Genetic management of captive populations for conservation. Wild Mammals in Captivity. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois.
Foley, C.A.H., and Faust, L.J. 2010. Rapid population growth in an elephant Loxodonta africana population recovering from poaching in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Oryx, 44(2): 205-212.
Earnhardt J, Faust, L.J., and Thompson, S.D. 2009. Extinction risk assessment for the Species Survival Plan (SSP®) population of the Bali mynah (Leucopsar rothschildi). ZooBio, 28: 230-252.
Faust, L.J., Bergstrom, Y.M., Thompson, S.D., and Bier, L. 2009. PopLink Version 2.1. Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicago, IL.
Faust, L.J., Bier, L., and Schowe, K. 2009. PopLink 2.1: User’s Manual. Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicago, IL.
Faust L.J., Earnhardt, J.E. and Thompson, S.D. 2006. Is reversing the decline of Asian elephants in captivity possible? An individual-based modeling approach. Zoo Biology, 25(3): 201-218.
Earnhardt, J.M., Thompson, S.D. and Schad, K. 2004. Strategic planning for captive population: projecting changes in genetic diversity. Animal Conservation, 7: 9-16.
Faust, L.J. 2004. Animal Attractions: Nature on Display in American Zoos (Book Review). Quarterly Review of Biology, 79(4): 431.
Faust, L.J., Jackson, R., Ford, A., Earnhardt, J. M. and Thompson, S.D. 2004. Models for management of wildlife populations: Lessons from spectacled bears in zoos and grizzly bears in Yellowstone. System Dynamics Review, 20(2): 163-178.
Faust, L.J., Thompson, S.D., Earnhardt, J.M., Brown, E., Ryan, S., Sherman, M. and Yurenka, M. 2003. Using stage-based system dynamics modeling for demographic management of captive populations. Zoo Biology, 22: 45-64.
Earnhardt, J.M., Thompson, S.D. and Marhevsky, E. 2001. Interactions of Target Population Size, Population Parameters, and Program Management of Viability of Captive Populations. Zoo Biology, 20: 169-183.
Faust, L.J. and Thompson, S.D. 2000. Birth sex ratio in captive mammals: Patterns, bias, and the implications for management and conservation. Zoo Biology, 19: 11-25.
Schmidt, K.A., Earnhardt, J.M., Brown, J.S. and Holt, R.D. 2000. Habitat selection under temporal heterogeneity: exorcising the ghost of competition past. Ecology, 81: 2622-2630.
Earnhardt, J.M. 1999. Reintroduction programmes: genetic tradeoffs for populations. Animal Conservation, 2: 279-286.
Earnhardt, J.M., Thompsom, S.D. and Turner-Erfort, G. 1998. Standards for data entry and maintenance of North American zoo and aquarium animal records databases. Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois.
Faust, L.J. and Brown, J.M. 1998. Sexual selection via female choice in the gall-making fly Eurosta solidaginis Fitch (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Biology of Gall-inducing Arthropods. North Central Research Station, Forest Service—U.S. Department of Agriculture, 82-90.
Earnhardt, J., Thompson, S.D. and Willis, K. 1995. The ISIS database: An evaluation of records essential for captive management. Zoo Biology, 14: 493-508.
Earnhardt, J.M., Thompson, S.D. and Willis, K. 1995. Reply to Flesness et al. Zoo Biology, 14: 519-522.
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