Assessing temporal genetic variation in a cougar population: influence of harvest and neighboring populations

Juarez, Rebeca L.; Schwartz, Michael K.; Pilgrim, Kristine L.; Thompson, Daniel J.; Tucker, Stephanie A.; Smith, Joshua B.; Jenks, Jonathan A.

doi:10.1007/s10592-015-0790-5

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…The most popular N e estimator is based on a measure of linkage disequilibrium (LD), that is, the nonrandom association of alleles at different loci. The LD method has been widely used during the last decade for a variety of organisms, including mammals (Cervantes, Pastor, Gutiérrez, Goyache, & Molina, 2011;Juarez et al, 2016), insects (Francuski & Milankov, 2015), reptiles (Bishop, Leslie, Bourquin, & O'Ryan, 2009), and fishes (Pilger, Gido, Propst, Whitney, & Turner, 2015;Wilson, McDermid, Wozney, Kjartanson, & Haxton, 2014).…”

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confidence: 99%

Estimating effective population size using RADseq: Effects of SNP selection and sample size

Marandel

Charrier

Lamy

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Effective population size (Ne) is a key parameter of population genetics. However, Ne remains challenging to estimate for natural populations as several factors are likely to bias estimates. These factors include sampling design, sequencing method, and data filtering. One issue inherent to the restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) protocol is missing data and SNP selection criteria (e.g., minimum minor allele frequency, number of SNPs). To evaluate the potential impact of SNP selection criteria on Ne estimates (Linkage Disequilibrium method) we used RADseq data for a nonmodel species, the thornback ray. In this data set, the inbreeding coefficient FIS was positively correlated with the amount of missing data, implying data were missing nonrandomly. The precision of Neestimates decreased with the number of SNPs. Mean Ne estimates (averaged across 50 random data sets with2000 SNPs) ranged between 237 and 1784. Increasing the percentage of missing data from 25% to 50% increased Ne estimates between 82% and 120%, while increasing the minor allele frequency (MAF) threshold from 0.01 to 0.1 decreased estimates between 71% and 75%. Considering these effects is important when interpreting RADseq data‐derived estimates of effective population size in empirical studies.

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confidence: 99%

Estimating effective population size using RADseq: Effects of SNP selection and sample size

Marandel

Charrier

Lamy

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Further, Robinson et al () reported that in hunted populations, cougars may adhere to the compensatory immigration sink hypothesis, which predicts that cougar removal (in small areas) will result in high rates of immigration with little reduction in cougar densities, and a shift toward younger animals within the population. Juarez et al (), seemingly confirmed this notion by reporting that the Black Hills has maintained genetic variability through compensatory immigration, especially from Wyoming, during years of increased harvest. It seems that the Black Hills may not be as isolated as previously thought, and that movement and metapopulation dynamics may partly explain the increase in carcasses in the Midwest despite >10 years of hunting in the Black Hills.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…We would anticipate cougar range expansion to be dependent almost exclusively on female movement dynamics (LaRue et al ) in that closer and more suitable areas are more likely to be occupied than smaller or more distant areas (MacAthur and Wilson ). Indeed, the North Dakota Badlands and Nebraska populations were likely recolonized by animals from Wyoming, Montana, and the Black Hills (Hoffman and Genoways , Juarez et al ) because of available habitat and proximity. A northward shift in clustering of carcass locations and more female carcasses present in the confirmation data during the post‐hunt period are consistent with expectations for continued recolonization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming, USA, is an area considered naturally recolonized by cougars ( Puma concolor ) during the 1900s, after the state protected the species and managed for increases in cougar prey (Thompson et al 2009). Though the Black Hills are semi‐isolated, immigration likely occurs from populations farther west (Feckse 2003, Anderson et al , Juarez et al ). By the early 2000s, the Black Hills cougar population was likely at carrying capacity (estimated to be ~150 animals; Fecske ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Increases in Midwestern cougars despite harvest in a source population

2019

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Although cougars (Puma concolor) appear to be recolonizing the midwestern United States, there is concern that hunting in source populations (primarily the Black Hills, SD and WY, USA) may prevent cougars from dispersing eastward. We use carcass data of cougars (n =147 carcasses at known locations, of which 111 were of known sex) in the Midwest collected during 1990–2015 to quantify whether cougar hunting in the Black Hills affected cougar distribution and presence in the Midwest. We separated carcass data into 2 time periods: before hunting in the Black Hills (i.e., pre‐hunt; 1990–2004) and after hunting (i.e., post‐hunt; 2005–2015). We hypothesized that if hunting prevented dispersal into the Midwest, cougar distribution would be random and their presence less, relative to the pre‐hunt period. We also were interested in sex ratios of carcasses over time, given the importance of that demographic metric to the potential establishment of viable populations. During the pre‐hunt period, 25 carcasses were dispersed randomly in the Midwest. During the post‐hunt period, we found nearly 4 times the number of carcasses in the Midwest (n = 86), carcasses were significantly clustered, and a greater percentage of carcasses were female (pre‐hunt n = 6 [24%]; post‐hunt n = 27 [31%]). Relative to the pre‐hunt period, we observed a 460‐km northward shift in the directional distribution of carcass locations during the post‐hunt period. These findings do not support the idea that hunting in the Black Hills has prevented cougar presence from increasing in the Midwest. Alternatively, we suggest the potential for immigration from cougar populations farther to the west as an explanation for the increase in cougar presence (particularly females) confirmed after the initiation of cougar hunting in the Black Hills. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

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“…There is evidence that the initial Pine Ridge population emigrated from the Black Hills of South Dakota (Jenks 2018). While no published genetic studies include Nebraska mountain lion specimens, genetic and isotopic studies suggest that Nebraska populations may have connections to eastern Wyoming and North Dakota populations as well (Henaux et al 2011, Juarez et al 2016, LaRue et al 2019. Riparian areas may be important habitat and movement corridors for mountain lions into and across Nebraska (Henaux et al 2011, LaRue and.…”

Section: Puma Concolor Cougarmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observations on the Distribution and Status of Selected Nebraska Mammals

Roehrs¹,

Benedict²,

Labedz³

et al. 2021

TNAS

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Information on the distribution and current status of 25 species or subspecies of mammals occurring in Nebraska are presented. The species covered include one shrew, an armadillo, eight bats, 10 rodents (including two subspecies of one species), three carnivores, and one artiodactyl. Distributional information reported includes the first state record for one species (Sorex nanus) and new county records for 18 species. In Nebraska, we know that mammals are shifting their geographic ranges with some extending populations into the state, whereas others are expanding their geographic ranges within the state. The current status of six additional mammalian taxa in Nebraska is documented, providing knowledge important to the conservation of these species during this time of shifting environmental conditions. The concern is that some mammals have suffered population declines since the 1940s and may have a contracting geographic range as well in the state. These species would be endangered and could be lost to the mammalian fauna of the state. Extensive data on reproduction in these mammals are presented and the taxonomy of species is updated from the 1964 Mammals of Nebraska by Jones.

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Assessing temporal genetic variation in a cougar population: influence of harvest and neighboring populations

Cited by 7 publications

References 50 publications

Estimating effective population size using RADseq: Effects of SNP selection and sample size

Estimating effective population size using RADseq: Effects of SNP selection and sample size

Increases in Midwestern cougars despite harvest in a source population

Observations on the Distribution and Status of Selected Nebraska Mammals

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