Proceedings of the Ninth Mountain Lion Workshop - Carnivore ...

A Preliminary Retrospective on the Implementation of Genetic
Introgression in the Florida Panther
Dave Onorato, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, 566 Commercial Boulevard, Naples, FL 34104, USA,
dave.onorato@myfwc.com
Warren Johnson, Laboratory for Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Building
560, Frederick, MD 21702 USA. johnsonw@ncifcrf.gov
Melody Roelke, Laboratory for Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Building
560, Frederick, MD 21702 USA. roelke@mail.ncifcrf.gov
Mark Cunningham, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, 4005 South Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA.
Mark.cunningham@myfwc.com
Darrell Land, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, 566 Commercial Boulevard, Naples, FL 34104, USA.
Darrell.land@myfwc.com
Mark Lotz, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, 566 Commercial Boulevard, Naples, FL 34104, USA.
Mark.lotz@myfwc.com
Roy McBride, Rancher’s Supply Incorporated, 26690 Pine Oaks Road, Ochopee, FL
34141, USA.
David Shindle, Environmental Science Division, Conservancy of Southwest Florida,
1450 Merrihue Drive, Naples, FL 34102 USA. davids@conservancy.org
Deborah Jansen, Big Cypress National Preserve, 33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, FL
34141, USA. Deborah_jansen@nps.gov
Oron “Sonny: Bass, Everglades National Park, South Florida Natural Resource Center,
40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034, USA. Sonny_bass@nps.gov
Stephen J. O’Brien, Laboratory for Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute,
Building 560, Frederick, MD 21702 USA. Obrien@ncifcrf.gov
ABSTRACT The decline of populations of large carnivores is typically an unfortunate
result of varied anthropogenic factors that ultimately expedite endangerment and
extinction. The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is a perfect example of the plight
faced by many populations of large carnivores in the 20th century. Extirpation of
panthers throughout most of their range resulted in a small (< 50) remnant population
isolated in southern Florida by the 1980’s. Early research revealed that portions of the
population appeared to be impacted by several correlates of inbreeding. Amending
detrimental influences of inbreeding depression often associated with endangered
populations should theoretically be possible via the introduction of novel genetic
variation from conspecifics. Herein, we report the historical decline of the Florida
panther, the subsequent initiation of a genetic introgression program in 1995 via the
release of Texas cougars (Puma concolor stanleyana), and findings derived in the
ensuing decade of research. We incorporated field observations, biomedical records, and
genotypic data from 21 microsatellite loci for panthers sampled between 1970 and 2007
to assess changes in genetic variation, population structuring, and kinship in pre- and
post-introgression periods. We also delineated temporal trends regarding observations of
congenital defects and reproductive abnormalities in the panther population.
Proceedings of the Ninth Mountain Lion Workshop
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