extinction vortex

The extinction vortex is a self-perpetuating cycle that increases the risk of a species' extinction. Small populations face challenges like reduced genetic diversity, inbreeding, and decreased adaptability. These issues lower individual survival and reproductive success, causing the population to shrink further. As numbers decline, these problems intensify, creating a feedback loop that makes recovery harder and increases the likelihood of extinction. It’s like a downward spiral: the smaller the population gets, the more vulnerable it becomes, accelerating its path toward possible disappearance.