Experimental studies of extinction dynamics

Extinction of populations occurs naturally, but global extinction rates are accelerating, making understanding extinction a high priority for conserva tion. Extinction in experimental populations of brine shrimp (Artemia franc iscana) was measured to assess hypothesized extinction processes. Greater i nitial population size, greater maximum population size supported by the en vironment, and Lower variation in environmental conditions reduced the Like lihood of extinction, as hypothesized. However, initial population size was less important, and maximum population size and environmental variation we re more important than often hypothesized. Unexpectedly, deterministic osci llations in population size due to inherent nonlinear dynamics and overcrow ding were as important or more important than hypothesized processes.