Editing Small population size (section)

== Conservation ==
Conservation efforts for small populations at risk of extinction focus on increasing population size as well as genetic diversity, which determines the fitness of a population and its long-term persistence.<ref>Smith, S., & Hughes, J. (2008). Microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA variation defines island genetic reservoirs for reintroductions of an endangered Australian marsupial, Perameles bougainville. Conservation Genetics, 9(3), 547.</ref> Some methods include [[captive breeding]] and genetic rescue. Stabilizing the variance in family size is an effective way can double the effective population size and is often used in conservation strategies.<ref name=":3" />