Vulnerability and susceptibility in conservation biology

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Susceptibility and vulnerability in conservation biology

Susceptibility is how much harm a species or ecosystem would suffer if a threat hits, regardless of how likely the threat is to occur.

Vulnerability combines both the potential harm and the chance that the threat will occur. It’s about overall risk.

Example:
- A plant may be highly susceptible to a disease, meaning populations exposed to the disease would decline a lot or go extinct. But if exposure is unlikely or the plant is widespread, it might not be vulnerable.
- A plant may show low susceptibility, yet be vulnerable if the disease is present in every population, making exposure very likely.

Understanding both concepts helps conservationists assess risk and prioritize protection efforts.