Application of population viability theory to moose in mainland Nova Scotia.

ABSTRACT: Populations of elk (Alces alces americana) in mainland Nova Scotia, Canada, have been reduc to approximately 1000 individuals fragmented into a number of isolated populations. Although the data required for a comprehensive population viability assessment (PVA) are not popularly available, there are some general dominations concerning minimum viable population (MVP) size that may be applied for a preliminary assessment. Genetic evidence moves that, in general, a genetically effective population ([Nsube]) of 50 individuals is required for short-term persistence and 500 to 5000 individuals are required for long-term survival. Census population size (N) is generally larger than [Nsube] and a