pääkannan

Pääkannan (literally "the main population") is a term used in Finnish ecological and conservation literature to denote the central or most influential portion of a species’ population within a particular area. It is often contrasted with secondary, peripheral, or satellite populations that exist at the margins of the species' range or habitat patches within a landscape.

In practical terms, the pääkanta is typically the largest or most reproductively active component, contributing most of the individuals, gene flow, and demographic resilience. It may serve as a source population for recolonization after local extinctions and as the primary driver of population dynamics at the landscape scale.

Identifying the pääkanta involves integrating field data and genetic information. Methods include population censuses, surveys of breeding individuals, capture–mark–recapture, telemetry for movement, and genetic analyses to assess population structure and gene flow. The concept is commonly used in metapopulation theory and landscape ecology to describe how core and peripheral populations interact.

In conservation and wildlife management, maintaining or enhancing the integrity of the pääkanta is often a priority, as disruptions to the main population can have disproportionate effects on overall viability. This may entail protecting key habitats, ensuring habitat connectivity, and monitoring demographic and genetic health.

Because populations are dynamic, the identity of the pääkanta can change over time with environmental change, disturbances, and management actions. It is a contextual term that depends on the species, location, and time frame of interest.