IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library
   

 

View printer friendly
Zanin, M.; Adrados, B.; Gonzalez, N.; Roques, S.; Brito, D.; Chavez, C.; Rubio, Y.; Palomares, F.
Gene flow and genetic structure of the puma and jaguar in Mexico
2016  European Journal of Wildlife Research: 1-9

Gene flow among populations and subpopulations homogenizes allele frequencies. This mechanism is strongly influenced by species dispersal ability, frequently correlating genetic variation with distance among individuals, which is also known as an isolation-by-distance pattern. Species with high dispersal abilities are expected to show a limited isolation-by-distance pattern compared to those with reduced dispersal. Here, we use non-invasive genetic sampling of faeces to evaluate how isolation-by-distance is differentially structured in jaguar and puma populations in Mexico. We have optimized and validated a reliable and standardized non-invasive genetic sampling protocol to monitor pumas based on 12 microsatellite markers, as well as applied a previously published and consistent protocol for jaguars. We found that jaguars and pumas were not uniform and panmictic populations. Spatial trends in allele frequencies for both species generated clinal patterns. However, pumas showed a stronger isolation-by-distance pattern than jaguars, which was expected since pumas seem to have a lower dispersal ability than jaguars. The genetic structures of both species differed at the level of subpopulations. These results reinforce the differences in intensity of isolation-by-distance between two generalist species with high dispersal ability.

PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here

 

(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union)