Conservation biology: are there any examples of a species represented by one breeding pair surviving?

Question

a species represented at one time or another by one breeding pair, but now surviving or thriving

Answer 1

Just Adam and Eve.  Oh, and the whole Noah's Ark thing.

Answer 2

I did read somewhere about incredibly rare bird species, like in Hawaii that was reduced to only a few breeding pairs.  but I can't rememer their names.

It's a bit unlikely that a single breeding pair would thrive.  With only one breeding pair, there's so little genetic variation that the species would have trouble surviving for very long.  One breeding pair could transalte to effectively extinct.

I suppose I gave you a start.  Good luck!

Answer 3

You should examine the thought process behind the way Darwinism work - genetic mutation.  Its highly unlikely that ANY complex species had more than a few pair of discreet species to begin with.  So in reality you could say every species alive today has survived extremely low numbers and genetic variability.

Generally the less of a specialist the species is, the greater chance of survival when the population is reduced.  The more limiting factors that exist the least likely they are to continue to procreate.

Cheetahs and American Bison are probably one of the best examples of species being managed back from the brink of extinction.