Citation
Drastic Population Fluctuations Explain the Rapid Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon
TL;DR
Passenger pigeon populations experienced extreme fluctuations historically
Genetic analysis revealing passenger pigeons had low genetic diversity despite enormous population size, making them vulnerable to population collapse. Documents how social species requiring large flocks for breeding (Allee effect) can collapse rapidly once below threshold density.
The passenger pigeon case - from billions to zero in fifty years - provides the most dramatic illustration of the Allee Trap. The species was functionally extinct while still numbering in the millions because flocks were too small to trigger breeding behaviors. This parallels businesses that die not from lack of users but from insufficient user density to create network value.
Key Findings from Hung & al. (2014)
- Passenger pigeon populations experienced extreme fluctuations historically
- Low genetic diversity despite massive population size
- Social breeding requirements created Allee effect vulnerability
- Collapse was inevitable once flocks fell below critical breeding threshold