Loss of Genetic Diversity among Ocelots in the United States during the 20th Century Linked to Human Induced Population Reductions

Janečka, Jan E.; Tewes, Michael E.; Laack, Linda L.; Caso, Arturo; Grassman, Lon I.; Honeycutt, Rodney L.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089384

Cited by 22 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 71 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…A higher diversity was observed for Amazonian ocelots [41], whereas lower values were observed in the remaining ocelot populations from the United States [16][17][18]. It is noteworthy that the microsatellite loci employed in these previous studies were not identical to ours, and therefore this comparison should not be interpreted strictly.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Lack of Population Genetic Structuring in Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in a Fragmented Landscape

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Habitat fragmentation can promote patches of small and isolated populations, gene flow disruption between those populations, and reduction of local and total genetic variation. As a consequence, these small populations may go extinct in the long-term. The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), originally distributed from Texas to southern Brazil and northern Argentina, has been impacted by habitat fragmentation throughout much of its range. To test whether habitat fragmentation has already induced genetic differentiation in an area where this process has been documented for a larger felid (jaguars), we analyzed molecular variation in ocelots inhabiting two Atlantic Forest fragments, Morro do Diabo (MD) and Iguaçu Region (IR). Analyses using nine microsatellites revealed mean observed and expected heterozygosity of 0.68 and 0.70, respectively. The MD sampled population showed evidence of a genetic bottleneck under two mutational models (TPM = 0.03711 and SMM = 0.04883). Estimates of genetic structure (FST = 0.027; best fit of k = 1 with STRUCTURE) revealed no meaningful differentiation between these populations. Thus, our results indicate that the ocelot populations sampled in these fragments are still not significantly different genetically, a pattern that strongly contrasts with that previously observed in jaguars for the same comparisons. This observation is likely due to a combination of two factors: (i) larger effective population size of ocelots (relative to jaguars) in each fragment, implying a slower effect of drift-induced differentiation; and (ii) potentially some remaining permeability of the anthropogenic matrix for ocelots, as opposed to the observed lack of permeability for jaguars. The persistence of ocelot gene flow between these areas must be prioritized in long-term conservation planning on behalf of these felids.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…Currently, skin trade is prohibited and the main threats to this species are habitat loss and fragmentation [15]. In this context, recent analyses have indicated that the ocelots in the United States and Mexico suffer with habitat loss and population isolation, with detectable genetic depletion as a consequence [16][17][18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lack of Population Genetic Structuring in Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in a Fragmented Landscape

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Such extinction processes have been relevant to the conservation of endangered felids (Janečka et al. 2008, 2014; Joshi et al. 2013; Ernest et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increasing isolation and fragmentation of wildlife populations reduces genetic diversity and facilitates inbreeding, which then initiates an extinction vortex (Keller and Waller 2002;O'Grady et al 2006). Such extinction processes have been relevant to the conservation of endangered felids (Jane cka et al 2008(Jane cka et al , 2014Joshi et al 2013;Ernest et al 2014), including species such as the Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus, Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx, and Florida panther Puma concolor coryi, which have experienced severe population bottlenecks (Schmidt et al 2011;Palomares et al 2012;Casas-Marce et al 2013). These species had H O prior to reintroduction or translocation programs that varied from 0.167 for the Florida panther, (Johnson et al 2010) to 0.31 for the Iberian lynx (Palomares et al 2012;Casas-Marce et al 2013).…”

Section: Species Reintroduction As An Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population and genetic outcomes 20 years after reintroducing bobcats (Lynx rufus) to Cumberland Island, Georgia USA

Diefenbach

Hansen

Bohling

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In 1988–1989, 32 bobcats Lynx rufus were reintroduced to Cumberland Island (CUIS), Georgia, USA, from which they had previously been extirpated. They were monitored intensively for 3 years immediately post‐reintroduction, but no estimation of the size or genetic diversity of the population had been conducted in over 20 years since reintroduction. We returned to CUIS in 2012 to estimate abundance and effective population size of the present‐day population, as well as to quantify genetic diversity and inbreeding. We amplified 12 nuclear microsatellite loci from DNA isolated from scats to establish genetic profiles to identify individuals. We used spatially explicit capture–recapture population estimation to estimate abundance. From nine unique genetic profiles, we estimate a population size of 14.4 (SE = 3.052) bobcats, with an effective population size (N e) of 5–8 breeding individuals. This is consistent with predictions of a population viability analysis conducted at the time of reintroduction, which estimated the population would average 12–13 bobcats after 10 years. We identified several pairs of related bobcats (parent‐offspring and full siblings), but ~75% of the pairwise comparisons were typical of unrelated individuals, and only one individual appeared inbred. Despite the small population size and other indications that it has likely experienced a genetic bottleneck, levels of genetic diversity in the CUIS bobcat population remain high compared to other mammalian carnivores. The reintroduction of bobcats to CUIS provides an opportunity to study changes in genetic diversity in an insular population without risk to this common species. Opportunities for natural immigration to the island are limited; therefore, continued monitoring and supplemental bobcat reintroductions could be used to evaluate the effect of different management strategies to maintain genetic diversity and population viability. The successful reintroduction and maintenance of a bobcat population on CUIS illustrates the suitability of translocation as a management tool for re‐establishing felid populations.

show abstract

“…Wild animal populations are threatened by habitat fragmentation and poaching, which can reduce both the sizes of the populations and their genetic diversity [Janecka et al, 2014;Mondol et al, 2013;Rivera-Ort ız et al, in press]. Chimpanzees are particularly vulnerable to such threats due to their slow reproduction [Nishida et al, 2003].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of chimpanzee community size and genetic diversity in Kahuzi‐Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo

Basabose¹,

Inoue

Kamungu³

et al. 2015

American J Primatol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A small chimpanzee habitat in the montane forest of Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, is connected with the lowland forest of this park through a corridor, which is affected by human encroachment. To assess the conservation status of the chimpanzee population in this small habitat, we estimated the size of the community and evaluated its genetic diversity by using 279 fecal samples collected in the montane forest of Kahuzi. Using autosomal microsatellite (or short tandem repeat, STR) loci, we identified 32 individuals, comprising 19 females and 13 males. Samples from 24 individuals were collected at least twice and a genetic mark-recapture analysis estimated that the community size was 36 (range: 32-42). Data on nest site sharing confirmed that all the samples belonged to the same community. Nest site sharing information may be useful in population studies of unhabituated chimpanzees. The genetic structure and diversity of the 32 genotyped individuals was assessed using Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) loci and mitochondrial D-loops. One dominant Y-STR haplotype was found, whereas there was no dominant haplotype in the mitochondrial region, reflecting a female-biased dispersal pattern, which is typical of chimpanzees. The genetic diversity for three markers in Kahuzi chimpanzees was comparable to that in other eastern chimpanzee populations. A relatively high heterozygosity and negative inbreeding coefficient (F ) for STR loci suggests that the study community belongs to an outbreeding chimpanzee population. These findings suggest that individuals of the study community may have reproductive contact with other chimpanzee individuals from neighboring communities in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, at least in the recent past. Am. J. Primatol. 77:1015-1025, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

show abstract

Loss of Genetic Diversity among Ocelots in the United States during the 20th Century Linked to Human Induced Population Reductions

Cited by 22 publications

References 71 publications

Lack of Population Genetic Structuring in Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in a Fragmented Landscape

Lack of Population Genetic Structuring in Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in a Fragmented Landscape

Population and genetic outcomes 20 years after reintroducing bobcats (Lynx rufus) to Cumberland Island, Georgia USA

Estimation of chimpanzee community size and genetic diversity in Kahuzi‐Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About