Proceedings of the fifth mountain lion workshop: 27

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86 PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP Holly Ernest. Graduate Group in Ecology and Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Michael Syvanen. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Walter Boyce. Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616. DNA analysis can prove valuable for assessments of mountain lion population size, predator-prey interactions, and lion-human interactions. A three year study to examine several aspects of individual and population genetic structure of mountain lions in California by the use of molecular markers in blood, tissue, and scat (feces) was begun in June 1995. Objectives for the study include the following. First, techniques to extract and analyze DNA mountain lion scat will be developed and validated. Use of genetic markers in scat samples will be evaluated as a method of mark-recapture for population density estimates and for tracking movements of specific individuals. Scat collected at prey kill sites (particularly bighorn sheep) will be tested for both predator and prey DNA. Second, geographical patterns of mountain lion distribution in California will be examined from a genetic perspective. Among populations of special interest are those of the Sierra Nevada and Sonoran Desert regions of Southern California. Preliminary results of the scat DNA portion of this study will be presented. Fecal and blood or tissue samples were collected from captive animals housed at rehabilitation facilities and from carcasses presented for necropsy. DNA was extracted from fecal samples using a standard phenol-chloroform protocol, then purified using gel filtration columns. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used to amplify genetically variable microsatellite regions in DNA extracted from scat, tissue, and blood samples. The results of preliminary research will be presented, comparing the identity and quality of DNA extracted from feces with DNA extracted from tissue of the same individuals. The use of scat DNA for identification of species, gender, and individuals will be discussed. This work will provide a foundation for studies in population genetics, forensics, population demographics, and predator-prey ecology. TESTING OF 'A RIGOROUS TECHNIQUE FOR IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUAL MOUNTAIN LIONS (Puma concolor) BY THEIR TRACKS' Melissa M. Grigione. Graduate Group in Ecology, Division of Environmental Studies, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. In 1993, Smallwood and Fitzhugh introduced a rigorous method to make individual animal identification by tracks more objective than previously possible. Working with nine mountain lions, they were able to correctly group 100% and 92% of the tracks from the left and right rear feet, respectively. While they worked with lions that were geographically separated, the identity of the mountain lions was unknown. In order to refine the "ground truth" the Smallwood-Fitzhugh method, 324 photographs of radio-collared mountain lion tracks were collected during the winter and spring of 1994 in Round Valley, Bishop, California. Tracks were photographed during different times of the day in different soil substrates, including snow. Linear, area, and angle measurements were taken directly from the photographs and subsequently analyzed statistically using Fisher's linear discriminant analysis for more than two groups. Track dimensions were measured both manually and by various computer programs, including ArcInfo geographical information systems. Preliminary results suggest that, based on the three types of measurements, approximately 80% of the track sets correspond with the appropriate radio-collared mountain lion.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP 87 PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF FLORIDA PANTHER GENETIC RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT Kenneth G. Johnson. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Tom H. Logan. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission E. Darrell Land. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Mark A. Lotz. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Michael R. Dunbar. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Roy McBride. Rancher's Supply Deborah K. Jansen. Big Cypress National Preserve Oron L. Bass, Jr. Everglades National Park. Eight non-pregnant female Texas cougars (Puma concolor stanleyana) were quarantined and then released at five locations in South Florida from 29 March-26 July 1995 for genetic restoration of the Florida Panther (P. c. coryi) population. Genetic restoration is intended to reduce inbreeding and restore genetic variability and vitality for a healthier, more resilient population of Florida panthers. Management strategies will be developed to maintain genetic diversity that is historically typical of the North American population, and will restore the long-term, adaptive capacity of the panther population. Telemetry and biomedical data were collected on 18 radio-collared Florida panthers and eight female Texas cougars. No significant biomedical or health problems were detected during quarantine. Social interactions have occurred between Texas cougars and both female and male Florida panthers. One litter of intercrossed kittens (F, M) were born in late-September and the second intercrossed litter (F) was born in mid-October. Four female panthers denned during the previous year; seven neonate kittens (3F, 4M) were examined at three dens and five panther kittens were marked with transponders; all intercrossed kittens have been marked with transponders. One Texas cougar was struck and killed by a motor vehicle on 20-21 September; she was found to contain three half-term fetuses upon necropsy. Mortalities of instrumented panthers included three males and two females; two males died from intraspecific aggression, a female died of pleuritis, another female was struck and killed by a vehicle, and the third male's cause of death was unknown. Florida panthers showed spatial use patterns similar to previous years. No displacements of Florida panthers have occurred nor have disruptions to the existing social organization been observed. Movements of Texas cougars were generally within habitat areas used by Florida panthers and the occasional movements in atypical areas such as mangroves and suburban areas were probably typical of animals exploring unfamiliar terrain. Evaluation of genetic restoration of the panther population will be based on the relative demographic and reproductive performance, morphological traits, and genetic characteristics of F1 and F2 intercrossed offspring. SPATIAL-TEMPORAL ANALYSES OF MOUNTAIN LIONS IN THE SIERRA NEVADA: LOOKING FOR PATTERNS AND "BULLS-EYES" AMID THE MESS Eric R. Loft. California Department of Fish & Game, 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento, CA 95814, USA. From 1983-1992, the California Department of Fish & Game and the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station conducted a telemetry study of mountain lions in the Sierra Nevada to learn more about their habits and impacts on mule deer of the North Kings Deer Herd. Data on thirty animals (11 male, 19 female) were used to examine home range (95% adaptive kernel estimate), elevational change, and spatial-temporal relationships. Over 8,500 radio locations were used in analyses. Mean home range size for males during winter and summer was 139 and 176 sq.mi., respectively. Female home ranges averaged 63 and 117 sq.mi. Most lions moved up/down in elevation seasonally, while some maintained home ranges at low elevations. In summer, lion density over years ranged from 1.2-2.0 lions/100 sq.mi.; during winter, density ranged from 1.4-3.0 lions/100 sq.mi. Spatial overlap was highest among females (mean = 32%), intermediate between the sexes (mean = 31%), and lowest among males (mean = 23%). Overlap of kittens with non-mother adults was also examined. Kitten home ranges overlapped more with adult males in summer (mean = 43%) than with females (mean = 27%). Initial results of spatial-temporal relationships among lions will be presented. As an example, each male overlapped with about 85 percent of males known to be present in summer, and 94 percent of males in winter.
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Proceedings of the fifth mountain lion workshop: 27

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