Abstract
Evolutionary responses that rescue populations from extinction when drasticenvironmental changes occur can be friend or foe. The field of conservation biol-ogy is concerned with the survival of species in deteriorating global habitats. Inmedicine, in contrast, infected patients are treated with chemotherapeutic inter-ventions, but drug resistance can compromise eradication of pathogens. Thesecontrasting biological systems and goals have created two quite separate researchcommunities, despite addressing the same central question of whether popula-tions will decline to extinction or be rescued through evolution. We argue thatcloser integration of the two fields, especially of theoretical understanding, wouldyield new insights and accelerate progress on these applied problems. Here, weoverview and link mathematical modelling approaches in these fields, suggestspecific areas with potential for fruitful exchange, and discuss common ideas andissues for empirical testing and prediction