Artigo Acesso aberto Revisado por pares

Genetic Restoration of the Florida Panther

2010; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 329; Issue: 5999 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.1192891

ISSN

1095-9203

Autores

Warren E. Johnson, David P. Onorato, Melody E. Roelke, E. Darrell Land, Mark W. Cunningham, Robert C. Belden, Roy McBride, Deborah Jansen, Mark Lotz, David B. Shindle, JoGayle Howard, David E. Wildt, Linda M. Penfold, Jeffrey A. Hostetler, Madan K. Oli, Stephen J. O’Brien,

Tópico(s)

Genetic diversity and population structure

Resumo

The rediscovery of remnant Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) in southern Florida swamplands prompted a program to protect and stabilize the population. In 1995, conservation managers translocated eight female pumas (P. c. stanleyana) from Texas to increase depleted genetic diversity, improve population numbers, and reverse indications of inbreeding depression. We have assessed the demographic, population-genetic, and biomedical consequences of this restoration experiment and show that panther numbers increased threefold, genetic heterozygosity doubled, survival and fitness measures improved, and inbreeding correlates declined significantly. Although these results are encouraging, continued habitat loss, persistent inbreeding, infectious agents, and possible habitat saturation pose new dilemmas. This intensive management program illustrates the challenges of maintaining populations of large predators worldwide.

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