Allee effect

The Allee effect is a phenomenon in ecology where a population of animals or organisms becomes less fit or productive when its numbers get too small. This happens because individuals rely on each other for survival and reproduction—whether for finding mates, hunting in groups, or defending against predators—so a shrinking population struggles to perform these essential functions. It's a critical concept in conservation biology because it means that endangered species can face a downward spiral where declining numbers make survival even harder, creating a race against time for recovery efforts.