title: Evolutionary theory as a tool for predicting extinction risk.
abstract: Timely and proactive wildlife conservation requires strategies for determining which species are most at the greatest threat of extinction. Here, we suggest that evolutionary theory, particularly the concept of specialization, can be a useful tool to inform such assessments and may greatly aid in our ability to predict the vulnerabilities of species to anthropogenic impacts.
authors.affiliation: Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA; Beneath the Waves, Inc., Syracuse, NY 13202, USA. Electronic address: gallagher.austin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Austin J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA; Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hammerschlag
authors.affiliation: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Program, 319 Morrill Science Center, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; Department of Biology, 221 Morrill Science Center, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Duncan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Irschick
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014714:Vertebrates
keywords: conservation; ecology; extinction; physiology; plasticity; specialization