Species that have a high degree of specialization and poor dispersal ability can be more prone to extinction than more generalist species and good dispersers. How these species traits affect the viability of populations is dependent on landscape factors,such as isolation and connectivity. Additionally, interactions between species (e.g. symbiosis), and how these interactions vary spatially and temporally can have a large impact on populations. When the range and habitat areas of a species continuously decrease, management strategies are often needed if the species shall be able to survive.

Tillämpningen av genetiskt modifierade (GM) grödor har varit utbredd över hela världen och har ökat markant sedan den första GM-grödan blev tillgänglig för kommersiellt bruk 1996. Sedan starten har det tillkommit mycket forskning kring risken för spridning av transgener från grödor till vilda populationer. För att en transgen ska kunna etableras i en vild population så måste tidiga generationer av hybrider överleva för att kunna återkorsas upprepade gånger med den vilda arten, det gör att det genetiska materialet från grödan succesivt reduceras i varje generation tills det att transgenen är det enda DNA från grödan kvar hos avkomman. För att denna process ska vara stabil krävs det en stark selektion för transgenen. Det här sättet för en gen att etableras i en population kallas för introgression och tros ha spelat en stor roll i växternas evolution.

Biodiversity is under threat in Sweden and many species are on the brink of extinction. This is mainly due to the large-scale drainage projects during the 19th and 20th century and the increasingly intensive land use in agriculture and forestry. The intensive land use with sharply defined boundaries between the production units has in many cases led to either overgrazing or overgrowing. As a result many species have been pushed back to "leftover" habitats like shooting ranges, power line corridors, roadsides, dumps, embankments and other similar areas. Therefore the question has been raised, wether or not it is needed to re-introduce large herbivores into the wild in order to maintain the biodiversity that is related to the extensive land use.This study has been conducted as a literature review and will focus on the European bison?s (Bison bonasus) impact on other species and biodiversity; conditions for reintroducing large herbivores in Sweden are also discussed.Free roaming populations of large herbivores have a positive impact on plants, insects and many other groups of organisms.