breeding population

[noun]

A group of animals of a particular species that is large enough and close enough together to successfully produce offspring. Larger breeding populations tend to have higher genetic diversity, which can help a species withstand natural or human-driven changes in the environment. Species that have large geographic ranges may have multiple breeding populations in different locations that do not interbreed with one another. A small breeding population may also be assembled in captivity, such as at a zoo, in order to help boost the population of a species that is threatened in the wild.