Minimum viable population (MVP)

The smallest population size estimated to have a specified probability of persisting for a specified period under stated demographic, environmental, and genetic conditions. MVP provides a population-level threshold for evaluating persistence beyond simple presence, but is not a universal number for a species and depends on the probability, time horizon, assumptions, and conditions used in the analysis. A minimum viable population should not be assumed to be large enough to perform the species' ecological functions at an ecologically effective level.