Title

Genetic Restoration of the Florida Panther

Authors

Warren E. Johnson, National Cancer Institute at Frederick
David P. Onorato, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Melody E. Roelke, National Cancer Institute at Frederick
E. Darrell Land, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Mark W. Cunningham, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Robert C. Belden, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Roy McBride, Livestock Protection Company
Deborah Jansen, Big Cypress National Preserve
Mark Lotz, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
David B. Shindle, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
JoGayle Howard, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
David E. Wildt, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Linda M. Penfold, White Oak Conservation Center
Jeffrey A. Hostetler, University of Florida - Gainesville
Madan K. Oli, University of Florida - Gainesville
Stephen J. O'Brien, National Cancer Institute at FrederickFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-24-2010

Publication Title

Science

ISSN

0036-8075

Volume

329

Issue/No.

5999

First Page

1641

Last Page

1645

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.

Comments

©2010 American Association for the Advancement of Science

Additional Comments

National Cancer Institute contract #: N01-CO-12400

NSUWorks Citation

Johnson, Warren E.; 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; and Stephen J. O'Brien. 2010. "Genetic Restoration of the Florida Panther." Science 329, (5999): 1641-1645. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_bio_facarticles/455

ORCID ID

0000-0001-7353-8301

ResearcherID

N-1726-2015