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Published online 24 September 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.1127

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Competition for sex hampers endangered species' recovery

Study challenges conservation management methods.

Natasha Gilbert

The battles for reproductive supremacy between individuals of an endangered species can significantly hamper the population's recovery rate, according to a study that measured the effects of this competition on conservation. The research suggests that some aspects of conservation practice, such as supplementary feeding of threatened species, should be re-evaluated to take account of this effect.

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  • I'm amused that Andrés is reported as being the leader of the team - in reality he was the student who had to do the work (including the fieldwork, poor soul) and Hanna Kokko was the leader. And Riverside wasn't involved, except to offer Andrés a job afterwards - he did the work at the University of Helsinki, and (for confusing historical reasons) was awarded his PhD by the University of Jyväskylä. Bob O'Hara (University of Helsinki)

    • 26 Sep, 2008
    • Posted by: Bob O'Hara

  • The work confirms selection is differential reproduction and that (aggessive) individuals keen to reproducing are bad for the population as a whole. Where is Darwin?

    • 01 Oct, 2008
    • Posted by: peter borger