According to demographic simulations, what is the recommended duration for releasing head-started juveniles into a single subpopulation to maximize viability?

Answer

15 to 20 years

Conservation management strategies, particularly reintroduction efforts utilizing head-started juveniles, have been informed by demographic modeling simulations conducted using data from sites like the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve. These modeling efforts provided counterintuitive insights for managers regarding the most effective strategy for establishing a viable founding population. The simulations strongly suggested that concentrating initial releases yields the highest probability of long-term success, recommending that a fixed number of captive-raised juveniles be released annually into a single subpopulation for an extended period, specifically between 15 to 20 years, rather than dispersing initial numbers across several smaller, potentially vulnerable clusters.

According to demographic simulations, what is the recommended duration for releasing head-started juveniles into a single subpopulation to maximize viability?
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