Article
Ecology
Gediendson Ribeiro de Araujo, Thyara de Deco-Souza, Ronaldo Goncalves Morato, Peter G. Crawshaw, Leanes Cruz da Silva, Pedro Nacib Jorge-Neto, Antonio Carlos Csermak-Jr, Leticia C. F. Bergo, Daniel Luis Zanella Kantek, Selma Samiko Miyazaki, Beatriz de Mello Beisiegel, Fernando Rodrigo Tortato, Joares Adenilson May-Junior, Maite Cardoso Coelho da Silva, Lucas Leuzinger, Jorge Aparecido Salomao-Jr, Tarcizio Antonio Rego de Paula
Summary: The study introduces the foot snare as an efficient and safe method for capturing jaguars and cougars, consisting of a thrower system, a holding system, and a monitoring system. The setting of snares is determined by tracks, scats, and camera traps, resulting in the capture of 30 jaguars and 6 cougars.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Sean M. Murphy, Richard A. Beausoleil, Haley Stewart, John J. Cox
Summary: Range-wide status assessments of the puma population are crucial for effective conservation and management. However, reliable density estimates for local populations are often biased or unavailable. A comprehensive review of existing puma density estimates reveals that most of them are based on small study areas and likely overestimate the actual density. Therefore, the current number and geographic extent of puma density estimates are insufficient for informing useful assessments for conservation purposes.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Annette Roug, Kristin Engebretsen, Arnaud van Wettere, Julie K. Young
Summary: Adult, free-ranging cougars in Utah were sampled from 2018 to 2021, and the results showed that a majority of them had antibodies to feline parvovirus, canine distemper virus, calicivirus, and Yersinia pestis. Some cougars also had antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, feline immunodeficiency virus, and were positive for Dirofilaria immitis antigen. However, they were seronegative for other pathogens. Overall, the detected disease exposures are similar to those reported in other western US states and are unlikely to negatively impact the cougar population in Utah.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
David C. Stoner, Zara McDonald, Courtney A. C. Coon
Summary: Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main reasons for the decline and disappearance of species worldwide. Pumas are particularly vulnerable to fragmentation and loss of demographic connectivity due to their high trophic level, large body size, and extensive spatial requirements. In the greater San Francisco Bay Area, widespread habitat fragmentation has led to a metapopulation of pumas facing genetic loss, vehicle collisions, and human-puma conflict. A photo survey from 2017 to 2021 revealed that patch size is the main factor influencing puma occupancy, with larger patches more likely to be occupied. Logistic regression models suggest a threshold occupancy probability between 300 and 400 km(2), indicating that puma populations relying on smaller habitats may face inbreeding depression and high human-wildlife conflict risks, making them vulnerable to extirpation. To conserve the species, we propose public education campaigns focusing on the largest isolated patches and targeted mitigation efforts to protect connective parcels.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Claudia Wultsch, Katherine A. A. Zeller, Lindsay S. S. Welfelt, Richard A. A. Beausoleil
Summary: This study investigates the genetic status of cougars in Washington, United States and south-central British Columbia, Canada. The results show that cougars are genetically differentiated into two clusters, with moderate levels of gene flow in the area except for the Olympic Peninsula and the Blue Mountains. Genetic diversity and inbreeding follow an east-to-west pattern, with cougars in the Olympic Peninsula having the lowest genetic diversity and highest inbreeding coefficients. This research is important for the conservation and management of cougars in the study area.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Maria de las Mercedes Guerisoli, Estela Luengos Vidal, Nicolas Caruso, Antony J. Giordano, Mauro Lucherini
Summary: The conflict between pumas and livestock producers is mainly caused by loss of livestock, leading to persecution and hunting of pumas by humans. Factors such as high livestock density, low latitudes, and low habitat steepness have been identified as predictors of puma-livestock conflicts. Common conflict mitigation techniques include improving livestock management, predator control, and the use of fencing.
Article
Ecology
Richard A. Beausoleil, Lindsay S. Welfelt, Ilai N. Keren, Brian N. Kertson, Benjamin T. Maletzke, Gary M. Koehler
Summary: Estimates of cougar density are challenging due to monetary and logistical constraints, but are crucial for wildlife management. By using consistent methods and conducting meta-analysis, researchers calculated average annual densities of cougars in Washington, USA, to assist with statewide harvest guidelines. Application of a Bayesian decision-theoretic approach helped determine potential annual harvest and minimize management risks, showing the importance of density for establishing guidelines and reducing uncertainty in future projections.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Brian N. Kertson, Ilai N. Keren
Summary: The presence of large carnivores close to human populations poses challenges for wildlife managers. This study found that cougar population growth does not necessarily result in increased proximity to humans and interactions. Cougar management in urban-wildland environments should consider both biological and anthropogenic factors.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
L. Mark Elbroch, Nicolas Lagos, Jorge Cardenas, Dania Goic, Rodrigo Moraga, Omar Ohrens
Summary: Monitoring wildlife populations is crucial for conservation, but it is expensive and lacks baseline data. This study explored the potential of using ordinary people's observations to determine individual pumas in southern Patagonia. The participants performed well, and a dataset was built, providing important conservation data for the Torres del Paine UNESCO Biosphere in southern Chile.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kenneth E. Loonam, David E. Ausband, Paul M. Lukacs, Michael S. Mitchell, Hugh S. Robinson
Summary: Estimating wildlife populations, especially for low-density and hard-to-detect species like cougars, can be challenging and costly. Remote cameras are efficient monitoring tools but traditional abundance estimation methods require identifiable individuals. New methods using encounter rates with remote cameras can estimate abundance without the need for individual identification. Time-to-event estimates were more precise and consistent compared to existing methods, while space-to-event estimates were less precise and consistent. Camera-based estimators can perform comparably to existing methods for estimating abundance in unmarked species living at low densities, allowing for broader spatial and temporal monitoring.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Corey A. Smereka, Paul F. Frame, Mark A. Edwards, Owen M. Slater, Delaney D. Frame, Andrew E. Derocher
Summary: This study investigated the space use strategies of cougars in west-central Alberta, Canada, and found that adult males had home ranges that were more than twice the size of those of adult females. Different space use patterns were identified, with dispersers being subadults and residents, seasonal shifters, and shifters being adults. A decision tree was constructed to categorize the space use strategies observed.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mauricio Cifuentes-Ibarra, L. Mark Elbroch, Omar Ohrens, Jose Infante, Cristian Bonacic
Summary: Ecotourism generates significant economic benefits but may have unintended negative impacts on local communities and wildlife, requiring careful management and regulation.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kristin N. Engebretsen, Darren DeBloois, Julie K. Young
Summary: Fine-scale monitoring of neonate mammals can provide important data about survival rates and cause-specific mortality. However, the traditional methods of monitoring using VHF transmitters and collars are logistically intensive and require frequent field efforts. This study describes and evaluates a new technology that creates a proximity link between GPS collars fitted on adult animals and expandable VHF collars fitted on neonate cougar kittens, allowing for successful tracking and enhancing understanding of neonate survival and maternal behavior.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
John A. Erwin, Kenneth A. Logan, Daryl R. Trumbo, W. Chris Funk, Melanie Culver
Summary: This study investigated the effects of hunting on reproduction and genetic diversity in a puma population. The presence of hunting reduced the age of male breeders and decreased the number of unique fathers siring litters. Hunting also increased relatedness among males and decreased relatedness among females in the population, as well as decreased genetic diversity.
Article
Ecology
Justin G. Clapp, Joseph D. Holbrook, Daniel J. Thompson
Summary: Evaluating animal location concentration provides insights into animal activity and behavior, with cluster algorithms offering a framework for modeling and predicting behavioral states. The GPSeqClus package processes location datasets and calculates movement attributes, mapping locations and clusters for efficient data processing and navigation. It highlights the ability to modify existing cluster attributes, accommodate different data types, and aid in developing predictive cluster models for understanding animal behavior.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)