CORRELATIONS, DEPENDENCY BOUNDS AND EXTINCTION RISKS

Methods for estimating bounds on extinction risks ave described for cases where correlations among the parameters in a quantitative population viability analysis are unknown, and more generally where the forms of statistical dependence among the model's parameters are unknown. An example using Leadbeater's possum Gymnobelideus leadbeateri shows that making incorrect assumptions about correlations and dependencies may lead to severe over-estimation or under-estimation of extinction risks.