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Greenberg M, Angelo H, Losada E, Wilmers CC. Relational geographies of urban unsustainability: The entanglement of California's housing crisis with WUI growth and climate change. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2310080121. [PMID: 39074270 PMCID: PMC11317566 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310080121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
One of California's most pressing social and environmental challenges is the rapid expansion of the wildlands-urban interface (WUI). Multiple issues associated with WUI growth compared to more dense and compact urban form are of concern-including greatly increased fire risk, greenhouse gas emissions, and fragmentation of habitat. However, little is understood about the factors driving this growth in the first place and, specifically, its relationship to urban-regional housing dynamics. This paper connects work in urban social science, urban and regional planning, and natural sciences to highlight the potential role of housing crises in driving displacement from the urban core to relatively more affordable exurbs, and with this, WUI growth. We analyze this relationship in California, which leads the nation in lack of affordable housing, scale of WUI growth, and many associated WUI hazards, including wildfire. We offer three related arguments: first, that California's affordable housing crisis, with its effect of driving migration to exurban areas, should be recognized as a significant urban form-related sustainability challenge; second, that to understand this challenge scholars must expand the spatial scale and analytic toolkit of both urban and WUI analysis through relational, mixed methods research; and third, that political and programmatic efforts to address California's housing crisis should undergird efforts to address WUI growth and climate change. Ultimately, we argue that expanding access to affordable urban housing can produce a more sustainable and just urban form that mitigates WUI-related climate and environmental impacts and reduces the vulnerability of growing numbers of WUI residents living in harm's way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Greenberg
- Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95064
| | - Hillary Angelo
- Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95064
| | - Elena Losada
- Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95064
| | - Christopher C. Wilmers
- Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95064
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95064
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2
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Onorato DP, Cunningham MW, Lotz M, Criffield M, Shindle D, Johnson A, Clemons BCF, Shea CP, Roelke-Parker ME, Johnson WE, McClintock BT, Pilgrim KL, Schwartz MK, Oli MK. Multi-generational benefits of genetic rescue. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17519. [PMID: 39080286 PMCID: PMC11289468 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67033-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic rescue-an increase in population fitness following the introduction of new alleles-has been proven to ameliorate inbreeding depression in small, isolated populations, yet is rarely applied as a conservation tool. A lingering question regarding genetic rescue in wildlife conservation is how long beneficial effects persist in admixed populations. Using data collected over 40 years from 1192 endangered Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) across nine generations, we show that the experimental genetic rescue implemented in 1995-via the release of eight female pumas from Texas-alleviated morphological, genetic, and demographic correlates of inbreeding depression, subsequently preventing extirpation of the population. We present unequivocal evidence, for the first time in any terrestrial vertebrate, that genetic and phenotypic benefits of genetic rescue remain in this population after five generations of admixture, which helped increase panther abundance (> fivefold) and genetic effective population size (> 20-fold). Additionally, even with extensive admixture, microsatellite allele frequencies in the population continue to support the distinctness of Florida panthers from other North American puma populations, including Texas. Although threats including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and infectious diseases are challenges to many imperiled populations, our results suggest genetic rescue can serve as an effective, multi-generational tool for conservation of small, isolated populations facing extinction from inbreeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dave P Onorato
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 298 Sabal Palm Rd, Naples, FL, 34114, USA.
| | - Mark W Cunningham
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
| | - Mark Lotz
- Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Naples, FL, 34114, USA
| | - Marc Criffield
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 298 Sabal Palm Rd, Naples, FL, 34114, USA
| | - David Shindle
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Ecological Services Field Office, Immokalee, FL, 34142, USA
| | - Annette Johnson
- Big Cypress National Preserve, National Park Service, Ochopee, FL, 34141, USA
| | - Bambi C F Clemons
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
| | - Colin P Shea
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA
| | | | - Warren E Johnson
- Department of Biology, Loyola University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21210, USA
| | - Brett T McClintock
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA
| | - Kristine L Pilgrim
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Missoula, MT, 59801, USA
| | - Michael K Schwartz
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Missoula, MT, 59801, USA
| | - Madan K Oli
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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3
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Stoner DC, McDonald Z, Coon CAC. Stepping stones to extirpation: Puma patch occupancy thresholds in an urban-wildland matrix. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10381. [PMID: 37546565 PMCID: PMC10401668 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat loss and fragmentation are the leading causes of species range contraction and extirpation, worldwide. Factors that predict sensitivity to fragmentation include high trophic level, large body size, and extensive spatial requirements. Pumas (Puma concolor) exemplify these qualities, making them particularly susceptible to fragmentation and subsequent reductions in demographic connectivity. The chaparral-dominated ecosystems surrounding the greater San Francisco Bay Area encompass over 10,000 km2 of suitable puma habitat, but inland waterways, croplands, urban land uses, and extensive transportation infrastructure have resulted in widespread habitat fragmentation. Pumas in this region now exist as a metapopulation marked by loss of genetic diversity, collisions with vehicles, and extensive human-puma conflict. Given these trends, we conducted a photo survey from 2017 to 2021 across 19 patches of predicted habitat and compiled a dataset of >6584 puma images. We used a logistic regression analytical framework to evaluate the hypothesis that puma patch occupancy would exhibit a threshold response explained by patch size, isolation, and habitat quality. Contrary to predictions, only variables related to patch size demonstrated any power to explain occupancy. On average, occupied patches were 18× larger than those where they were not detected (825 ± 1238 vs. 46 ± 101 km2). Although we observed pumas in patches as small as 1 km2, logistic regression models indicated a threshold occupancy probability between 300 and 400 km2, which is remarkably close to the mean male puma home range size in coastal California (~381 km2). Puma populations dependent on habitats below this value may be susceptible to inbreeding depression and human-wildlife conflict, and therefore vulnerable to extirpation. For species conservation, we suggest conflicts might be ameliorated by identifying the largest, isolated patches for public education campaigns with respect to management of domestic animals, and remaining connective parcels be identified, mapped, and prioritized for targeted mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C. Stoner
- Department of Wildland ResourcesUtah State UniversityLoganUtahUSA
- Felidae Conservation FundMill ValleyCaliforniaUSA
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4
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Nisi AC, Benson JF, King R, Wilmers CC. Habitat fragmentation reduces survival and drives source-sink dynamics for a large carnivore. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2822. [PMID: 36807453 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Rigorous understanding of how environmental conditions impact population dynamics is essential for species conservation, especially in mixed-use landscapes where source-sink dynamics may be at play. Conservation of large carnivore populations in fragmented, human-dominated landscapes is critical for their long-term persistence. However, living in human-dominated landscapes comes with myriad costs, including direct anthropogenic mortality and sublethal energetic costs. How these costs impact individual fitness and population dynamics are not fully understood, partly due to the difficulty in collecting long-term demographic data for these species. Here, we analyzed an 11-year dataset on puma (Puma concolor) space use, mortality, and reproduction in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, to quantify how living in a fragmented landscape impacts individual survival and population dynamics. Long-term exposure to housing density drove mortality risk for female pumas, resulting in an 18-percentage-point reduction in annual survival for females in exurban versus remote areas. While the overall population growth rate appeared stable, reduced female survival in more developed areas resulted in source-sink dynamics across the study area, with 42.1% of the Santa Cruz Mountains exhibiting estimated population growth rates <1. Since habitat selection is often used as a proxy for habitat quality, we also assessed whether puma habitat selection predicted source and sink areas. Patterns of daytime puma habitat selection predicted source areas, while time-of-day-independent habitat selection performed less well as a proxy. These results illuminate the individual- and population-level consequences of habitat fragmentation for large carnivores, illustrating that habitat fragmentation can produce source-sink dynamics that may not be apparent from other metrics of habitat quality. Locally, conserving high-quality source habitat within the Santa Cruz Mountains is necessary to support long-term puma population persistence. More broadly, source-sink dynamics may at play for other carnivore populations in similar fragmented systems, and linking landscape conditions to population dynamics is essential for effective conservation. Caution should be used in inferring habitat quality from habitat selection alone, but these results shed light on metrics of selection that may be better or worse proxies to identify source areas for large carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Nisi
- Center for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
- Biology Department, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - John F Benson
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Richard King
- Center for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Christopher C Wilmers
- Center for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
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5
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Feline Leukemia Virus Frequently Spills Over from Domestic Cats to North American Pumas. J Virol 2022; 96:e0120122. [PMID: 36374109 PMCID: PMC9749473 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01201-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a gammaretrovirus with horizontally transmitted and endogenous forms. Domestic cats are the primary reservoir species, but FeLV outbreaks in endangered Florida panthers and Iberian lynxes have resulted in mortalities. To assess prevalence and interspecific/intraspecific transmission, we conducted an extensive survey and phylogenetic analysis of FeLV infection in free-ranging pumas (n = 641) and bobcats (n = 212) and shelter domestic cats (n = 304). Samples were collected from coincident habitats across the United States between 1985 and 2018. FeLV infection was detected in 3.12% of the puma samples, 0.47% of the bobcat samples, and 6.25% of the domestic cat samples analyzed. Puma prevalence varied by location, with Florida having the highest rate of infection. FeLV env sequences revealed variation among isolates, and we identified two distinct clades. Both progressive and regressive infections were identified in cats and pumas. Based on the time and location of sampling and phylogenetic analysis, we inferred 3 spillover events between domestic cats and pumas; 3 puma-to-puma transmissions in Florida were inferred. An additional 14 infections in pumas likely represented spillover events following contact with reservoir host domestic cat populations. Our data provide evidence that FeLV transmission from domestic cats to pumas occurs widely across the United States, and puma-to-puma transmission may occur in genetically and geographically constrained populations. IMPORTANCE Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that primarily affects domestic cats. Close interactions with domestic cats, including predation, can lead to the interspecific transmission of the virus to pumas, bobcats, or other feline species. Some infected individuals develop progressive infections, which are associated with clinical signs of disease and can result in mortality. Therefore, outbreaks of FeLV in wildlife, including the North American puma and the endangered Florida panther, are of high conservation concern. This work provides a greater understanding of the dynamics of the transmission of FeLV between domestic cats and wild felids and presents evidence of multiple spillover events and infections in all sampled populations. These findings highlight the concern for pathogen spillover from domestic animals to wildlife but also identify an opportunity to understand viral evolution following cross-species transmissions more broadly.
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Blakey RV, Sikich JA, Blumstein DT, Riley SP. Mountain lions avoid burned areas and increase risky behavior after wildfire in a fragmented urban landscape. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4762-4768.e5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Verrelli BC, Alberti M, Des Roches S, Harris NC, Hendry AP, Johnson MTJ, Savage AM, Charmantier A, Gotanda KM, Govaert L, Miles LS, Rivkin LR, Winchell KM, Brans KI, Correa C, Diamond SE, Fitzhugh B, Grimm NB, Hughes S, Marzluff JM, Munshi-South J, Rojas C, Santangelo JS, Schell CJ, Schweitzer JA, Szulkin M, Urban MC, Zhou Y, Ziter C. A global horizon scan for urban evolutionary ecology. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:1006-1019. [PMID: 35995606 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Research on the evolutionary ecology of urban areas reveals how human-induced evolutionary changes affect biodiversity and essential ecosystem services. In a rapidly urbanizing world imposing many selective pressures, a time-sensitive goal is to identify the emergent issues and research priorities that affect the ecology and evolution of species within cities. Here, we report the results of a horizon scan of research questions in urban evolutionary ecology submitted by 100 interdisciplinary scholars. We identified 30 top questions organized into six themes that highlight priorities for future research. These research questions will require methodological advances and interdisciplinary collaborations, with continued revision as the field of urban evolutionary ecology expands with the rapid growth of cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Verrelli
- Center for Biological Data Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
| | - Marina Alberti
- Department of Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Simone Des Roches
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Nyeema C Harris
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Andrew P Hendry
- Department of Biology, Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C4, Canada
| | - Marc T J Johnson
- Department of Biology, Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Amy M Savage
- Department of Biology and Center for Computational & Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | | | - Kiyoko M Gotanda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada; Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Lynn Govaert
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lindsay S Miles
- Center for Biological Data Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - L Ruth Rivkin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON L5L 1C6, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Kristin M Winchell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Kristien I Brans
- Department of Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cristian Correa
- Instituto de Conservación Biodiversidad y Territorio, Centro de Humedales Río Cruces, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, 5090000, Chile
| | - Sarah E Diamond
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ben Fitzhugh
- Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Nancy B Grimm
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Sara Hughes
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - John M Marzluff
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jason Munshi-South
- Louis Calder Center & Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Carolina Rojas
- Instituto de Estudios Urbanos y Territoriales, Centro de Desarrollo Sustentable CEDEUS, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, El Comendador 1916, Providencia, 7500000, Santiago, Chile
| | - James S Santangelo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Christopher J Schell
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jennifer A Schweitzer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37917, USA
| | - Marta Szulkin
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mark C Urban
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology & Center of Biological Risk, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Yuyu Zhou
- Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Carly Ziter
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
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8
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Conservation importance of the strategic, centrally located snow leopard population in the western Himalayas, India: a genetic perspective. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00275-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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9
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Development of a 95 SNP panel to individually genotype mountain lions (Puma concolor) for microfluidic and other genotyping platforms. CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-022-01255-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe mountain lion (Puma concolor) is one of the few remaining large predators in California, USA with density estimation from fecal genotypes becoming an essential component of conservation and management. In highly urbanized southern California, mountain lions are fragmented into small, inbred populations making proper marker selection critical for individual identification. We developed a panel of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers that can be used for consistent, routine mountain lion monitoring by different laboratories. We used a subset of existing Illumina HiSeq data for 104 individuals from throughout California to design a single, highly heterozygous multiplex of 95 SNPs for the Fluidigm platform. This panel confidently differentiates individual mountain lions, identifies sex, and discriminates mountain lions from bobcats. The panel performed well on fecal DNA extracts and based on design, had sufficient resolution to differentiate individual genotypes in even the population with lowest genetic diversity in southern California.
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Gustafson KD, Gagne RB, Buchalski MR, Vickers TW, Riley SPD, Sikich JA, Rudd JL, Dellinger JA, LaCava MEF, Ernest HB. Multi-population puma connectivity could restore genomic diversity to at-risk coastal populations in California. Evol Appl 2022; 15:286-299. [PMID: 35233248 PMCID: PMC8867711 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is decreasing wildlife habitat and connectivity worldwide, including for apex predators, such as the puma (Puma concolor). Puma populations along California's central and southern coastal habitats have experienced rapid fragmentation from development, leading to calls for demographic and genetic management. To address urgent conservation genomic concerns, we used double-digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing to analyze 16,285 genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 401 pumas sampled broadly across the state. Our analyses indicated support for 4-10 geographically nested, broad- to fine-scale genetic clusters. At the broadest scale, the four genetic clusters had high genetic diversity and exhibited low linkage disequilibrium, indicating that pumas have retained genomic diversity statewide. However, multiple lines of evidence indicated substructure, including 10 finer-scale genetic clusters, some of which exhibited fixed alleles and linkage disequilibrium. Fragmented populations along the Southern Coast and Central Coast had particularly low genetic diversity and strong linkage disequilibrium, indicating genetic drift and close inbreeding. Our results demonstrate that genetically at risk populations are typically nested within a broader-scale group of interconnected populations that collectively retain high genetic diversity and heterogenous fixations. Thus, extant variation at the broader scale has potential to restore diversity to local populations if management actions can enhance vital gene flow and recombine locally sequestered genetic diversity. These state- and genome-wide results are critically important for science-based conservation and management practices. Our nested population genomic analysis highlights the information that can be gained from population genomic studies aiming to provide guidance for the conservation of fragmented populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle D. Gustafson
- Department of Biological SciencesArkansas State UniversityJonesboroArkansasUSA
| | - Roderick B. Gagne
- Department of PathobiologyWildlife Futures ProgramUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicineKennett SquarePennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - T. Winston Vickers
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health CenterSchool of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California ‐ DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Seth P. D. Riley
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation AreaNational Park ServiceThousand OaksCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jeff A. Sikich
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation AreaNational Park ServiceThousand OaksCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jaime L. Rudd
- California Department of Fish and WildlifeRancho CordovaCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Melanie E. F. LaCava
- Wildlife Genomics and Disease Ecology LaboratoryDepartment of Veterinary SciencesUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - Holly B. Ernest
- Wildlife Genomics and Disease Ecology LaboratoryDepartment of Veterinary SciencesUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
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11
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Exploring the effect of 195 years-old locks on species movement: landscape genetics of painted turtles in the Rideau Canal, Canada. CONSERV GENET 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-022-01431-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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12
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Huffmeyer AA, Sikich JA, Vickers TW, Riley SPD, Wayne RK. First reproductive signs of inbreeding depression in Southern California male mountain lions (Puma concolor). Theriogenology 2022; 177:157-164. [PMID: 34710647 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Long-term studies of mountain lions (Puma concolor) in Southern California have documented persistent small population sizes and the lowest genetic variation of any mountain lion population, except for the Federally endangered mountain lion subspecies, the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). There is overwhelming molecular evidence supporting inbreeding and low genetic diversity in these Southern California populations but there is a lack of phenotypical evidence of inbreeding depression. The primary goal of this study was to assess male mountain lions, in Southern California, for teratospermia (>60% abnormal sperm production), one of the first signs of inbreeding depression in mountain lions that are associated with decreased reproduction and population decline. From December 2019 to December 2020, we surveyed mountain lions during live captures, after mortality events, and in images collected from camera traps in the following populations: Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, Santa Ana Mountains, and the Eastern Peninsular Range. Mountain lions were sampled for known physical abnormalities associated with inbreeding depression such as teratospermia, cryptorchidism, and distal tail kinks. For teratospermia, we extracted testes from five males post-mortem to assess sperm morphology. Epididymal sperm evaluations revealed all males were teratospermic. Across all samples, on average, 93% of observed spermatozoa were abnormal. We physically examined 32 mountain lions (males and females) for distal tail kinks, and we observed one individual affected. We examined 15 male mountain lions for cryptorchidism, and we observed one unilaterally cryptorchid male and one male with testes that differed significantly in size, likely reflecting asynchronous migration of the testes during puberty. Further, we identified three other animals in camera-trap images that had distal tail kinks, for a total of four. In conclusion, from December 2019 to December 2020, we identified nine individuals exhibiting physical signs of inbreeding depression. These reproductive and physical signs of inbreeding depression in Southern California mountain lions increase the urgency of conservation efforts in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audra A Huffmeyer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Jeff A Sikich
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, National Park Service, 401 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91360, USA
| | - T Winston Vickers
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Seth P D Riley
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, National Park Service, 401 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91360, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Robert K Wayne
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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13
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Gagne RB, Kraberger S, McMinn R, Trumbo DR, Anderson CR, Logan KA, Alldredge MW, Griffin K, Vandewoude S. Viral Sequences Recovered From Puma Tooth DNA Reconstruct Statewide Viral Phylogenies. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.734462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring pathogens in wildlife populations is imperative for effective management, and for identifying locations for pathogen spillover among wildlife, domestic species and humans. Wildlife pathogen surveillance is challenging, however, as sampling often requires the capture of a significant proportion of the population to understand host pathogen dynamics. To address this challenge, we assessed the ability to use hunter-collected teeth from puma across Colorado to recover genetic data of two feline retroviruses, feline foamy virus (FFV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIVpco) and show they can be utilized for this purpose. Comparative phylogenetic analyses of FIVpco and FFV from tooth and blood samples to previous analyses conducted with blood samples collected over a nine-year period from two distinct areas was undertaken highlighting the value of tooth derived samples. We found less FIVpco phylogeographic structuring than observed from sampling only two regions and that FFV data confirmed previous findings of endemic infection, minimal geographic structuring, and supported frequent cross-species transmission from domestic cats to pumas. Viral analysis conducted using intentionally collected blood samples required extensive financial, capture and sampling efforts. This analysis illustrates that viral genomic data can be cost effectively obtained using tooth samples incidentally-collected from hunter harvested pumas, taking advantage of samples collected for morphological age identification. This technique should be considered as an opportunistic method to provide broad geographic sampling to define viral dynamics more accurately in wildlife.
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14
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Logan KA, Runge JP. Effects of Hunting on a Puma Population in Colorado. WILDLIFE MONOGRAPHS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wmon.1061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A. Logan
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2300 S. Townsend Avenue Montrose CO 81401 USA
| | - Jonathan P. Runge
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 317 W. Prospect Road Fort Collins CO 80526 USA
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15
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Dellinger JA, Gustafson KD, Gammons DJ, Ernest HB, Torres SG. Minimum habitat thresholds required for conserving mountain lion genetic diversity. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:10687-10696. [PMID: 33072289 PMCID: PMC7548186 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Jointly considering the ecology (e.g., habitat use) and genetics (e.g., population genetic structure and diversity) of a species can increase understanding of current conservation status and inform future management practices. Previous analyses indicate that mountain lion (Puma concolor) populations in California are genetically structured and exhibit extreme variation in population genetic diversity. Although human development may have fragmented gene flow, we hypothesized the quantity and quality of remaining habitat available would affect the genetic viability of each population. Our results indicate that area of suitable habitat, determined via a resource selection function derived using 843,500 location fixes from 263 radio‐collared mountain lions, is strongly and positively associated with population genetic diversity and viability metrics, particularly with effective population size. Our results suggested that contiguous habitat of ≥10,000 km2 may be sufficient to alleviate the negative effects of genetic drift and inbreeding, allowing mountain lion populations to maintain suitable effective population sizes. Areas occupied by five of the nine geographic–genetic mountain lion populations in California fell below this habitat threshold, and two (Santa Monica Area and Santa Ana) of those five populations lack connectivity to nearby populations. Enhancing ecological conditions by protection of greater areas of suitable habitat and facilitating positive evolutionary processes by increasing connectivity (e.g., road‐crossing structures) might promote persistence of small or isolated populations. The conservation status of suitable habitat also appeared to influence genetic diversity of populations. Thus, our results demonstrate that both the area and status (i.e., protected or unprotected) of suitable habitat influence the genetic viability of mountain lion populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kyle D Gustafson
- Department of Biological Sciences Arkansas State University Jonesboro Arkansas USA.,Wildlife Genomics and Disease Ecology Laboratory University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
| | - Daniel J Gammons
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife Sacramento California USA
| | - Holly B Ernest
- Wildlife Genomics and Disease Ecology Laboratory University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
| | - Steven G Torres
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife Sacramento California USA
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16
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LaCava MEF, Gagne RB, Stowell SML, Gustafson KD, Buerkle CA, Knox L, Ernest HB. Pronghorn population genomics show connectivity in the core of their range. J Mammal 2020; 101:1061-1071. [PMID: 33100929 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Preserving connectivity in the core of a species' range is crucial for long-term persistence. However, a combination of ecological characteristics, social behavior, and landscape features can reduce connectivity among wildlife populations and lead to genetic structure. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), for example, exhibit fluctuating herd dynamics and variable seasonal migration strategies, but GPS tracking studies show that landscape features such as highways impede their movements, leading to conflicting hypotheses about expected levels of genetic structure. Given that pronghorn populations declined significantly in the early 1900s, have only partially recovered, and are experiencing modern threats from landscape modification, conserving connectivity among populations is important for their long-term persistence in North America. To assess the genetic structure and diversity of pronghorn in the core of their range, we genotyped 4,949 genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 11 microsatellites from 398 individuals throughout the state of Wyoming. We found no evidence of genetic subdivision and minimal evidence of isolation by distance despite a range that spans hundreds of kilometers, multiple mountain ranges, and three interstate highways. In addition, a rare variant analysis using putatively recent mutations found no genetic division between pronghorn on either side of a major highway corridor. Although we found no evidence that barriers to daily and seasonal movements of pronghorn impede gene flow, we suggest periodic monitoring of genetic structure and diversity as a part of management strategies to identify changes in connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie E F LaCava
- Wildlife Genomics and Disease Ecology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.,Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Roderick B Gagne
- Wildlife Genomics and Disease Ecology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sierra M Love Stowell
- Wildlife Genomics and Disease Ecology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Kyle D Gustafson
- Wildlife Genomics and Disease Ecology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.,Department of Biology and Environmental Health, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, MO, USA
| | - C Alex Buerkle
- Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.,Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Lee Knox
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Holly B Ernest
- Wildlife Genomics and Disease Ecology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.,Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
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17
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Gallo O, Castillo DF, Godinho R, Casanave EB. Genetic diversity, population structure, and immigration, in a partially hunted puma population of south-central Argentina. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractCarnivores are decreasing globally due in part to anthropogenic ecological disturbances. In Argentina, human activities have fragmented wildlife habitat, thereby intensifying puma–livestock conflict and leading to population control of the predator species by hunting. We investigated genetic variability and population structure of pumas (Puma concolor) from three south-central Argentine provinces with two different management policies for the species: full protection versus legal hunting. All genetic estimates were based on 83 individuals genotyped at 25 species-specific microsatellite loci. The overall genetic diversity was high (observed heterozygosity = 0.63), but lower than in other South American populations. Spatial analyses revealed the presence of two bottlenecked genetic clusters with very similar diversity and low gene flow (3% per generation) between them. However, analyses based on a priori separated groups showed that gene flow follows increasing values of hunting pressure, converging to the area with the greatest number of individuals harvested. Our results suggest that hunting pressure likely is contributing to the gene flow pattern, limiting pumas’ movements and creating a metapopulation dynamic among geographic subpopulations. Integrated demographic and genetic approaches are needed to better understand pumas’ movements across the landscape and adopt successful management plans to achieve long-term population viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando Gallo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur (INBIOSUR)-CONICET, Dpto. de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 671, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diego F Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur (INBIOSUR)-CONICET, Dpto. de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 671, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Raquel Godinho
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO/InBio), Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Emma B Casanave
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur (INBIOSUR)-CONICET, Dpto. de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 671, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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18
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Dellinger JA, Cristescu B, Ewanyk J, Gammons DJ, Garcelon D, Johnston P, Martins Q, Thompson C, Vickers TW, Wilmers CC, Wittmer HU, Torres SG. Using Mountain Lion Habitat Selection in Management. J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justin A. Dellinger
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife 1701 Nimbus Rd., Suite D Rancho Cordova CA 95670 USA
| | - Bogdan Cristescu
- Center for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department University of California 1156 High St. Santa Cruz CA 95064 USA
| | - Jonathan Ewanyk
- Institute for Wildlife Studies PO Box 1104 Arcata CA 95518 USA
| | - Daniel J. Gammons
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife 787 N Main St., Suite 220 Bishop CA 93514 USA
| | - David Garcelon
- Institute for Wildlife Studies PO Box 1104 Arcata CA 95518 USA
| | | | | | - Craig Thompson
- United States Forest Service, Northern Region 26 Fort Missoula Rd. Missoula MT 59804 USA
| | - T. Winston Vickers
- Wildlife Health Center University of California 1089 Veterinary Medicine Dr. Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Christopher C. Wilmers
- Center for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department University of California 1156 High St. Santa Cruz CA 95064 USA
| | - Heiko U. Wittmer
- School of Biological Sciences Victoria University of Wellington PO Box 600 Wellington 6140 NZ
| | - Steven G. Torres
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife 1701 Nimbus Rd., Suite D Rancho Cordova CA 95670 USA
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19
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Logan KA. Puma population limitation and regulation: What matters in puma management? J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A. Logan
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife 2300 S. Townsend Avenue Montrose CO 81401 USA
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