Use of intraperitoneal radiotransmitters to study mountain lion (<i>Puma concolor</i>) Kittens

Moriarty, Joanne Gale; Whited, Lynn; Sikich, Jeff A.; Riley, Seth P. D.

doi:10.1002/wsb.105

Cited by 11 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…In the SMM, we also captured 3–5 week old kittens at natal dens by hand and implanted VHF transmitters in their peritoneal cavities (Moriarty et al. ). We monitored survival and determined causes of mortality of radio‐instrumented mountain lions as described previously (Beier and Barrett , Vickers et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We deployed global positioning system (GPS) or very high frequency (VHF) radio-collars on adult and subadult mountain lions. In the SMM, we also captured 3-5 week old kittens at natal dens by hand and implanted VHF transmitters in their peritoneal cavities (Moriarty et al 2012). We monitored survival and determined causes of mortality of radioinstrumented mountain lions as described previously (Beier and Barrett 1993, Vickers et al 2015, Benson et al 2016a.…”

Section: Capture and Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We monitored survival and determined causes of mortality of radioinstrumented mountain lions as described previously (Beier and Barrett 1993, Vickers et al 2015, Benson et al 2016a. We monitored reproduction of all collared females in the SMM using GPS telemetry to locate natal dens and count kittens (Moriarty et al 2012). In the SAM, all capture and handling was conducted under Protocol 10950/PHS, Animal Welfare Assurance number A3433-01, with capture and sampling procedures approved in Protocol number 17233 by the Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of California, Davis, and Memoranda of Understanding and Scientific Collecting Permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).…”

Section: Capture and Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Extinction vortex dynamics of top predators isolated by urbanization

Benson

Mahoney

Vickers

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

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Extinction risk is elevated in small, isolated populations due to demographic and genetic interactions. Therefore, it is critical to model these processes realistically in population viability analyses (PVA) to inform local management and contribute to a greater understanding of mechanisms within the extinction vortex. We conducted PVA's for two small mountain lion populations isolated by urbanization in southern California to predict population growth, extinction probability, and loss of genetic diversity with empirical data. Specifically, we (1) provide the first PVA for isolated mountain lions in the Santa Ana Mountains (SAM) that considers both demographic and genetic risk factors and (2) test the hypothesis that variation in abundance and mortality between the SAM and Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) result in differences in population growth, loss of heterozygosity, and extinction probability. Our models predicted 16–21% probability of local extinction in the SAM due purely to demographic processes over 50 yr with current low levels or no immigration. Our models also predicted that genetic diversity will further erode in the SAM such that concern regarding inbreeding depression is warranted unless gene flow is increased, and that if inbreeding depression occurs, rapid local extinction will be highly likely. Dynamics of the two populations were broadly similar, but they also exhibited differences driven by larger population size and higher mortality in the SAM. Density‐independent scenarios predicted a rapidly increasing population in the SMM, whereas growth potential did not differ from a stable trend in the SAM. Demographic extinction probability and loss of heterozygosity were greater in the SMM for density‐dependent scenarios without immigration. However, higher levels of immigration had stronger, positive influences on both demographic viability and retention of genetic diversity in the SMM driven by lower abundance and higher adult survival. Our results elucidate demographic and genetic threats to small populations within the extinction vortex, and how these vary relative to demographic structure. Importantly, simulating seemingly attainable increases in connectivity was sufficient to greatly reduce extinction probability. Our work highlights that conservation of large carnivores is achievable within urbanized landscapes, but requires land protection, connectivity, and strategies to promote coexistence with humans.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Capture and Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Capture and Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Extinction vortex dynamics of top predators isolated by urbanization

Benson

Mahoney

Vickers

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

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“…Additionally, all carcasses were necropsied by experienced veterinarians to confirm our field diagnoses and to gain additional information. We monitored reproduction of all collared females, using GPS telemetry to locate natal dens and capture, count, sex, and mark kittens [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions between demography, genetics, and landscape connectivity increase extinction probability for a small population of large carnivores in a major metropolitan area

et al. 2016

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The extinction vortex is a theoretical model describing the process by which extinction risk is elevated in small, isolated populations owing to interactions between environmental, demographic, and genetic factors. However, empirical demonstrations of these interactions have been elusive. We modelled the dynamics of a small mountain lion population isolated by anthropogenic barriers in greater Los Angeles, California, to evaluate the influence of demographic, genetic, and landscape factors on extinction probability. The population exhibited strong survival and reproduction, and the model predicted stable median population growth and a 15% probability of extinction over 50 years in the absence of inbreeding depression. However, our model also predicted the population will lose 40-57% of its heterozygosity in 50 years. When we reduced demographic parameters proportional to reductions documented in another wild population of mountain lions that experienced inbreeding depression, extinction probability rose to 99.7%. Simulating greater landscape connectivity by increasing immigration to greater than or equal to one migrant per generation appears sufficient to largely maintain genetic diversity and reduce extinction probability. We provide empirical support for the central tenet of the extinction vortex as interactions between genetics and demography greatly increased extinction probability relative to the risk from demographic and environmental stochasticity alone. Our modelling approach realistically integrates demographic and genetic data to provide a comprehensive assessment of factors threatening small populations.

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“…Technology facilitating tracking of individually marked juvenile animals has become increasingly available for a variety of species, allowing for more direct estimation of juvenile survival and cause-specific mortality rates (e.g. Benson, Mills, Loveless, & Patterson, 2013;Moriarty, Whited, Sikich, & Riley, 2012). However, to date empirical estimates of juvenile survival have mainly been limited to terrestrial species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Juvenile survival, competing risks, and spatial variation in mortality risk of a marine apex predator

Benson

Jorgensen

O’Sullivan

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Reliable estimates of mortality have been a major gap in our understanding of population ecology for marine animals. This is especially true for juveniles, which are often the most vulnerable age class and whose survival can strongly influence population growth. Thousands of pop‐up archival satellite tags (PAT) have been deployed on a variety of marine species, but analysis of these data has mainly been restricted to movement ecology and post‐handling survival following fisheries bycatch. We used PAT data to provide empirical estimates of annual survival and cause‐specific mortality for juveniles of a marine top predator. We tagged and tracked juvenile white sharks in the north eastern Pacific Ocean to (1) estimate survival rates and competing risks and (2) investigate intrinsic and environmental influences on mortality risk. We also evaluated the use of PAT data with respect to meeting assumptions of known‐fate survival models. Annual juvenile survival rate was 0.632 (SE = 0.15) and annual natural mortality rate (0.08, SE = 0.06) was lower than the rate of gillnet interactions (0.48, SE = 0.15). Mortality risk decreased with greater body length and was significantly greater (hazard ratio = 9.05, SE = 0.70) for juvenile sharks in Mexican waters, relative to California waters. The PAT data allowed for unambiguous determination of fate in most cases, aided by collaborative relationships with fishers and secondary tags deployed on a subset of sharks. Although caution must be exercised to establish whether assumptions are met, our work demonstrates that PAT data represent a widely available, untapped data source that could dramatically increase our understanding of marine population ecology. Synthesis and applications. Our research shows fisheries bycatch to be the main source of mortality for juvenile white sharks in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, highlighting the need for best practices, such as releasing sharks quickly following incidental capture. Furthermore, mortality risk for juveniles was greater in Mexican waters, such that survival may be lower in colder years when juveniles are likely to move south seeking warmer water. This could increase stochasticity in juvenile survival and negatively influence population growth for this apex predator.

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Use of intraperitoneal radiotransmitters to study mountain lion (Puma concolor) Kittens

Cited by 11 publications

References 10 publications

Extinction vortex dynamics of top predators isolated by urbanization

Extinction vortex dynamics of top predators isolated by urbanization

Interactions between demography, genetics, and landscape connectivity increase extinction probability for a small population of large carnivores in a major metropolitan area

Juvenile survival, competing risks, and spatial variation in mortality risk of a marine apex predator

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