A framework for balancing extinction risk between source and recipient populations: Translocation‐based recovery of American martens

Abstract Translocations are increasingly used for species recovery but are often performed without considering the impact to both recipient and source populations. Imperiled species often occur in networks of sub‐populations each contributing to connectivity, viability, and persistence, and balancing translocation benefits for recipient populations against the risks to source populations will support broad conservation goals. To demonstrate this, we assessed the extinction risk and population recovery potential of two American marten ( Martes americana) populations that share a history of translocation events. To assess viability of both populations under future translocation actions, we quantified vital rates and populated demographic matrix models to project both populations forward 50 years under 16 different scenarios. The source population was predicted to be resistant to declines under temporally dispersed translocation schedules involving <100 adult females in total; however, the recipient population requires 50–100 adult females to reduce extinction risk and >100 to approach recovery. Thus, a single source population may be sufficient to reduce extinction risk but cannot promote recovery of the recipient population, and alternative management actions may be necessary. Our work highlights the importance of considering both source and recipient populations and provides an analytical decision‐making framework to guide sustainable translocation programming.