authority: geo-bon
slug: effective-population-size
name: Effective population size
domain: biodiversity
subdomain: genetic-composition
authority_id: geo-bon:effective-population-size
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: null
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: null
    entity: null
  dwc_terms:
    - dwc:scientificName
    - dwc:taxonID
    - dwc:organismID
    - dwc:individualCount
canonical_units: count
description: |
  The size of an idealised population that would lose genetic diversity (or
  experience drift) at the same rate as the population under study. Anchors
  Kunming-Montreal GBF Headline Indicator A.4 (proportion of populations with
  Ne >= 500) and underpins minimum viable population thresholds.
theme: biodiversity
demos: []
status: stub
sources:
  - https://geobon.org/ebvs/what-are-ebvs/
  - https://geobon.org/ebvs/genetic-composition/
  - Hoban et al. 2020, Biological Conservation 248, 108654
  - Mergeay et al. 2026 (GBF indicator A.4 framework)