Conservation Biology: Genetic Approaches

The International World Conservation Union (IUCN) provides definitions of terms used to describe the status of a species in the wild, based on a number of factors, including the size of a particular population, whether the population is declining in number, and, if so, the extent to which the trend will continue, as well as the threats the population faces. Genetic approaches can play an essential role in helping to evaluate populations, species, and species designations.

The following categories currently cover the range of definitions for species status according to IUCN: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Lower Risk, and Data Deficient.