Recent research has revealed that evolution often occurs
on contemporary time scales, often within decades. Contemporary
evolution is associated with the same factors
that are driving the current extinction crisis: habitat loss
and degradation, overharvesting and exotic species.
Thus, it is relevant to many conservation situations. First,
habitat fragmentation might influence the potential of a
population to adapt in response environmental degradation.
Second, certain harvesting strategies can result in
the evolution of life-history traits, ultimately resulting in
negative impacts on harvestable yield. Third, the establishment
of exotic species can be influenced by their
adaptive potential and our ability to limit that potential.
Furthermore, contemporary evolution is of concern for
intensively managed species, because it might reduce
their fitness in native habitats. Ultimately, contemporary
evolution is influenced by complex interactions among
population size, genetic variation, the strength of selection,
and gene flow,makingmostmanagement scenarios
unique. In a world filled with contemporary evolution,
conservation efforts that ignore its implications will be
less efficient and perhaps even risk prone.