Final answer:
True, the minimum viable population size is the smallest number of individuals needed for a species to maintain its numbers and avoid an extinction vortex. It considers genetic diversity and environmental carrying capacity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question explores the concept of minimum viable population (MVP) size in Biology. True, the minimum viable population size is the smallest number of individuals required for a species to sustain its numbers and survive long-term without declining towards extinction, also known as an extinction vortex. MVP takes into account genetic diversity, which is necessary to avoid inbreeding depression, genetic drift, and to maintain evolutionary potential.
Furthermore, populations fluctuate around the carrying capacity, which is the maximum population size that can be sustained by the environment without causing harm. The concept of carrying capacity is crucial in understanding the population dynamics of K-selected species, which are stable and stay near this capacity, compared to r-selected species that grow rapidly and whose populations are generally well below the carrying capacity.