Annual Report Bureau of Wildlife Diversity Conservation: Florida Panther Genetic Restoration and Management
Land D, Cunningham M, Lotz M, Shindle D. 2002. Annual Report Bureau of Wildlife Diversity Conservation: Florida Panther Genetic Restoration and Management
A report that outlines the unique opportunities that exists to implement conservation and management strategies for Florida panthers and evaluate results that will benefit Florida panthers as well as other imperiled species. Florida panthers are endangered by a combination of population and habitat factors (USFWS 1987). Loss and fragmentation of habitat and unregulated killing over the past two centuries have reduced and isolated populations in the southeastern United States to the point where only one population, estimated in the late 1980's at 30-50 adults, exists on approximately 8,810 km2 (2.2 million acres) of habitat in south Florida (Maehr 1990). Small population size and geographic isolation increase the chance for extinction of Florida panthers due to demographic instability inherent in small numbers and erosion of genetic diversity from restricted gene flow and inbreeding. Genetic diversity is the basis for production of fit individuals as well as providing population elasticity in order to respond to changing environmental and habitat conditions. Demographic variation has been considered important in regulating populations for many years, but the role of social and genetic factors has only recently begun to be examined as modem techniques from field biology and molecular genetics have become available. Recovery of the Florida panther is complex, but not an uncommon situation as many species face similar circumstances. A unique opportunity exists to implement conservation and management strategies for Florida panthers and evaluate results that will benefit Florida panthers as well as other imperiled species.