Functional extinction

Functional extinction is the extinction of a species or other taxon such that:

1. it disappears from the fossil record, or historic reports of its existence cease;
2. the reduced population no longer plays a significant role in ecosystem function; or
3. the population is no longer viable. There are no individuals able to reproduce, or the small population of breeding individuals will not be able to sustain itself due to inbreeding depression and genetic drift, which leads to a loss of fitness.

In plant populations, self-incompatibility mechanisms may cause related plant specimens to be incompatible, which may lead to functional extinction if an entire population becomes self-incompatible. This does not occur in larger populations.

In polygynous populations, where only a few males leave offspring, there is a much smaller reproducing population than if all viable males were considered. Furthermore, the successful males act as a genetic bottleneck, leading to more rapid genetic drift or inbreeding problems in small populations.

Functionally extinct species in modern times

• Baiji dolphin
• South China tiger
• Pinta Island tortoise
• Northern white rhinoceros
• Christmas Island pipistrelle
• Ivory-billed woodpecker
• Christmas Island shrew
• Christmas Island forest skink

See also

• Conservation genetics
• Mutational meltdown
• Small population size
• Extinction vortex