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

ORCID

0000-0001-7353-8301

ResearcherID

N-1726-2015

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Science

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

9-24-2010

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.

Volume

329

Issue

5999

First Page

1641

Last Page

1645

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