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Genetic Restoration of the Florida Panther

  1. Author:
    Johnson, W. E.
    Onorato, D. P.
    Roelke, M. E.
    Land, E. D.
    Cunningham, M.
    Belden, R. C.
    McBride, R.
    Jansen, D.
    Lotz, M.
    Shindle, D.
    Howard, J.
    Wildt, D. E.
    Penfold, L. M.
    Hostetler, J. A.
    Oli, M. K.
    O'Brien, S. J.

  2. Author Address

    [Johnson, Warren E.; O'Brien, Stephen J.] NCI, Lab Genom Divers, Frederick, MD 21702 USA. [Onorato, David P.; Land, E. Darrell; Cunningham, Mark; Lotz, Mark; Shindle, David] Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservat Commiss, Naples, FL 34114 USA. [Roelke, Melody E.] NCI, SAIC Frederick, Lab Genom Divers, Frederick, MD 21702 USA. [Belden, Robert C.] US Fish & Wildlife Serv, Vero Beach, FL 32960 USA. [McBride, Roy] Livestock Protect Co, Alpine, TX 79832 USA. [Jansen, Deborah] Big Cypress Natl Preserve, Ochopee, FL 34141 USA. [Howard, JoGayle; Wildt, David E.] Smithsonian Conservat Biol Inst, Front Royal, VA 22630 USA. [Penfold, Linda M.] White Oak Conservat Ctr, Yulee, FL 32046 USA. [Hostetler, Jeffrey A.; Oli, Madan K.] Univ Florida, Dept Wildlife Ecol & Conservat, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA.;Johnson, WE, NCI, Lab Genom Divers, Frederick, MD 21702 USA.;warjohns@mail.nih.gov Dave.Onorato@MyFWC.com stephenobrien@nih.gov
    1. Year: 2010
    2. Date: Sep
  2. Journal: Science
    1. 329
    2. 5999
    3. Pages: 1641-1645
  4. Type of Article: Article
  5. ISSN: 0036-8075
  1. Abstract:

    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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External Sources

  1. View Full Text
  2. DOI: 10.1126/science.1192891
  3. View record in Web of Science®
  4. WOS: 000282098100040

Library Notes

  1. Fiscal Year: FY2009-2010
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