Species–genetic diversity correlations in habitat fragmentation can be biased by small sample sizes

摘要: Predicted parallel impacts of habitat fragmentation on genes and species lie at the core conservation biology, yet tests this rule are rare. In a recent article in Ecology Letters, Struebig et al. (2011) report that declining genetic diversity accompanies tropical forest fragments. However, study estimates many populations through extrapolation from very small sample sizes. Using data work, we show results estimated smallest sizes drive species-genetic correlation (SGDC), owing to false-positive association between loss diversity. Small persistent problem studies, which often do not fit simple theoretical models. It is essential, therefore, assessing proposed SGDC sufficient order conclusions be robust.