ABSTRACT
We identified a rustrela virus variant in a wild mountain lion (Puma concolor) in Colorado, USA. The animal had clinical signs and histologic lesions compatible with staggering disease. Considering its wide host range in Europe, rustrela virus should be considered as a cause for neurologic diseases among mammal species in North America.
Subject(s)
Puma , Animals , Colorado/epidemiology , Puma/virology , Phylogeny , Animals, Wild/virology , Herpesviridae Infections/veterinary , Herpesviridae Infections/virology , Herpesviridae Infections/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Genetic rescue-an increase in population fitness following the introduction of new alleles-has been proven to ameliorate inbreeding depression in small, isolated populations, yet is rarely applied as a conservation tool. A lingering question regarding genetic rescue in wildlife conservation is how long beneficial effects persist in admixed populations. Using data collected over 40 years from 1192 endangered Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) across nine generations, we show that the experimental genetic rescue implemented in 1995-via the release of eight female pumas from Texas-alleviated morphological, genetic, and demographic correlates of inbreeding depression, subsequently preventing extirpation of the population. We present unequivocal evidence, for the first time in any terrestrial vertebrate, that genetic and phenotypic benefits of genetic rescue remain in this population after five generations of admixture, which helped increase panther abundance (> fivefold) and genetic effective population size (> 20-fold). Additionally, even with extensive admixture, microsatellite allele frequencies in the population continue to support the distinctness of Florida panthers from other North American puma populations, including Texas. Although threats including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and infectious diseases are challenges to many imperiled populations, our results suggest genetic rescue can serve as an effective, multi-generational tool for conservation of small, isolated populations facing extinction from inbreeding.
Subject(s)
Endangered Species , Puma , Animals , Puma/genetics , Female , Conservation of Natural Resources/methods , Genetics, Population , Microsatellite Repeats/genetics , Gene Frequency , Texas , Inbreeding , Inbreeding Depression , Genetic Fitness , Florida , MaleABSTRACT
Large terrestrial mammals increasingly rely on human-modified landscapes as anthropogenic footprints expand. Land management activities such as timber harvest, agriculture, and roads can influence prey population dynamics by altering forage resources and predation risk via changes in habitat, but these effects are not well understood in regions with diverse and changing predator guilds. In northeastern Washington state, USA, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are vulnerable to multiple carnivores, including recently returned gray wolves (Canis lupus), within a highly human-modified landscape. To understand the factors governing predator-prey dynamics in a human context, we radio-collared 280 white-tailed deer, 33 bobcats (Lynx rufus), 50 cougars (Puma concolor), 28 coyotes (C. latrans), and 14 wolves between 2016 and 2021. We first estimated deer vital rates and used a stage-structured matrix model to estimate their population growth rate. During the study, we observed a stable to declining deer population (lambda = 0.97, 95% confidence interval: 0.88, 1.05), with 74% of Monte Carlo simulations indicating population decrease and 26% of simulations indicating population increase. We then fit Cox proportional hazard models to evaluate how predator exposure, use of human-modified landscapes, and winter severity influenced deer survival and used these relationships to evaluate impacts on overall population growth. We found that the population growth rate was dually influenced by a negative direct effect of apex predators and a positive effect of timber harvest and agricultural areas. Cougars had a stronger effect on deer population dynamics than wolves, and mesopredators had little influence on the deer population growth rate. Areas of recent timber harvest had 55% more forage biomass than older forests, but horizontal visibility did not differ, suggesting that timber harvest did not influence predation risk. Although proximity to roads did not affect the overall population growth rate, vehicle collisions caused a substantial proportion of deer mortalities, and reducing these collisions could be a win-win for deer and humans. The influence of apex predators and forage indicates a dual limitation by top-down and bottom-up factors in this highly human-modified system, suggesting that a reduction in apex predators would intensify density-dependent regulation of the deer population owing to limited forage availability.
Subject(s)
Deer , Population Dynamics , Wolves , Animals , Deer/physiology , Wolves/physiology , Humans , Predatory Behavior , Washington , Human Activities , Coyotes/physiology , Puma/physiology , Food Chain , Ecosystem , Lynx/physiologyABSTRACT
Mesocarnivores face interspecific competition and risk intraguild predation when sharing resources with apex carnivores. Within a landscape, carnivores across trophic levels may use the same communication hubs, which provide a mix of risks (injury/death) and rewards (gaining information) for subordinate species. We predicted that mesocarnivores would employ different strategies to avoid apex carnivores at shared communication hubs, depending on their trophic position. To test our prediction, we examined how different subordinate carnivore species in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, USA, manage spatial overlap with pumas (Puma concolor), both at communication hubs and across a landscape-level camera trap array. We estimated species-specific occurrence, visitation rates, temporal overlap, and Avoidance-Attraction Ratios from camera traps and tested for differences between the two types of sites. We found that mesocarnivores generally avoided pumas at communication hubs, and this became more pronounced when pumas scent-marked during their most recent visit. Coyotes (Canis latrans), the pumas' closest subordinate competitor in our system, exhibited the strongest avoidance at communication hubs. Gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) avoided pumas the least, which may suggest possible benefits from pumas suppressing coyotes. Overall, mesocarnivores exhibited various spatiotemporal avoidance strategies at communication hubs rather than outright avoidance, likely because they benefit from information gained while 'eavesdropping' on puma activity. Variability in avoidance strategies may be due to differential predation risks, as apex carnivores often interact more aggressively with their closest competitors. Combined, our results show how apex carnivores trigger complex species interactions across the entire carnivore guild and how trophic position determines behavioral responses and subsequent space use of subordinate mesocarnivores across the landscape.
Subject(s)
Predatory Behavior , Puma , Animals , Carnivora , Foxes/physiology , Coyotes , California , Carnivory , Food ChainABSTRACT
To manage predation risk, prey navigate a dynamic landscape of fear, or spatiotemporal variation in risk perception, reflecting predator distributions, traits, and activity cycles. Prey may seek to reduce risk across this landscape using habitat at times and in places when predators are less active. In multipredator landscapes, avoiding one predator could increase vulnerability to another, making the landscape of fear difficult to predict and navigate. Additionally, humans may shape interactions between predators and prey, and induce new sources of risk. Humans can function as a shield, providing a refuge for prey from human-averse carnivores, and as a predator, causing mortality through hunting and vehicle collisions and eliciting a fear response that can exceed that of carnivores. We used telemetry data collected between 2017 and 2021 from 63 Global Positioning System-collared elk (Cervus canadensis), 42 cougars (Puma concolor), and 16 wolves (Canis lupus) to examine how elk habitat selection changed in relation to carnivores and humans in northeastern Washington, USA. Using step selection functions, we evaluated elk habitat use in relation to cougars, wolves, and humans, diel period (daytime vs. nighttime), season (summer calving season vs. fall hunting season), and habitat structure (open vs. closed habitat). The diel cycle was critical to understanding elk movement, allowing elk to reduce encounters with predators where and when they would be the largest threat. Elk strongly avoided cougars at night but had a near-neutral response to cougars during the day, whereas elk avoided wolves at all times of day. Elk generally used more open habitats where cougars and wolves were most active, rather than altering the use of habitat structure depending on the predator species. Elk avoided humans during the day and ~80% of adult female mortality was human caused, suggesting that humans functioned as a "super predator" in this system. Simultaneously, elk leveraged the human shield against wolves but not cougars at night, and no elk were confirmed to have been killed by wolves. Our results add to the mounting evidence that humans profoundly affect predator-prey interactions, highlighting the importance of studying these dynamics in anthropogenic areas.
Subject(s)
Deer , Puma , Wolves , Animals , Humans , Female , Ecosystem , Deer/physiology , Fear , Predatory Behavior/physiologyABSTRACT
Treating insomnia during pregnancy improves sleep and depressed mood. However, given well-established links between poor sleep and a broad spectrum of adverse maternal outcomes, the benefits of insomnia care may reach beyond sleep and depression. The present study evaluated the preliminary efficacy of 'Perinatal Understanding of Mindful Awareness for Sleep' (PUMAS)-a mindfulness sleep programme tailored to pregnancy that combines behavioural sleep strategies and meditation-for enhancing everyday mindfulness and maternal-fetal attachment, as well as for alleviating anxiety, repetitive thinking, and sleep-related daytime impairment. We conducted a secondary analysis of a single-arm proof-of-concept trial of 11 pregnant women with fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnosed insomnia disorder who completed PUMAS (six sessions), which was delivered in an individual format via telemedicine video. Pre- and post-treatment outcomes included the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R), Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS), Generalised Anxiety Disorder seven-item survey (GAD-7), Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ), Daytime Insomnia Symptoms Response Scale (DISRS), and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sleep-Related Impairment Scale (PROMIS-SRI). Symptom changes were evaluated with paired-samples t tests. Results showed PUMAS patients reported large increases in CAMS-R (Cohen's dz = 1.81) and medium-large increases in MFAS scores (Cohen's dz = 0.73). Moreover, PUMAS patients reported large reductions in scores on the GAD-7 (Cohen's dz = 1.09), PTQ (Cohen's dz = 1.26), DISRS (Cohen's dz = 1.38), and PROMIS-SRI (Cohen's dz = 1.53). Preliminary evidence suggests that a mindfulness-based perinatal sleep programme may benefit several domains of maternal wellbeing beyond sleep and depression. PUMAS substantially enhanced patient ratings of everyday mindfulness and maternal-fetal attachment, while reporting alleviations in anxiety, perseverative thinking, insomnia-focused rumination, and sleep-related daytime impairment.
Subject(s)
Disorders of Excessive Somnolence , Mindfulness , Puma , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Animals , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Mindfulness/methods , Pregnant Women , Proof of Concept Study , Sleep/physiology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapyABSTRACT
A relationship exists between mechanical loading and bone morphology. Although studies show a relationship between trabecular bone morphology and locomotor strategy in mammals, none of them have studied trabecular bone morphology in felid species occupying disparate and overlapping habitats. We investigate trabecular bone volume fraction (BVF) in the femoral and humeral heads, and distal tibia of four felid species (mountain lions, jaguars, cheetahs, and leopards) to identify whether there is a relationship between BVF and locomotor behavior. This study's goals are to identify whether felid species with high daily travel distance or large home range size have greater BVF compared with those with small daily travel distance or home range size, and whether BVF is correlated among the three elements of the fore and hindlimb studied. We quantified BVF in micro- and peripheral computed tomography images and found no significant differences across species in the femoral and humeral head (p > 0.05). However, in the distal tibia, results showed that leopards, mountain lions, and cheetahs have significantly greater (p < 0.05) BVF than jaguars. Despite differences in home range size and daily travel distance, the proximal elements did not reflect differences in BVF; however, the distal-most element did, suggesting decreased loading among jaguars. These findings suggest that the observed pattern of trabecular bone morphology is potentially due to the diversity in locomotor strategy of the forelimb. Additionally, these results imply that neither home range size nor daily travel distance are clear indicators of activity levels. A cautious approach is warranted in studying how loading influences trabecular morphology.
Subject(s)
Acinonyx , Panthera , Puma , Animals , Cancellous Bone , Homing Behavior , Lower Extremity , Bone DensityABSTRACT
Ecological associations between wild felids and parasites from the Taeniidae family are related to predator-prey interactions, where felids act as definitive hosts while their prey, herbivores and/or omnivores, act as intermediate hosts. In the Atlantic Forest, six neotropical felid species coexist in sympatry, but the ecological parasite-host interactions remain poorly studied. Taenia omissa is a tapeworm that parasitizes cougars (Puma concolor) as its only definitive host and their ungulate prey as intermediate hosts. The aim of this study was to identify tapeworms present in road-killed fauna using both molecular and morphological characteristics and their predator-prey relationship. Adult tapeworms found in a cougar, a jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and two ocelots (Leopardus pardalis); and metacestodes found in a red brocket deer (Mazama americana) and a wild guinea pig (Cavia aperea) were analyzed. Through morphological analysis of rostellar hooks and molecular analysis of the mitochondrial genetic marker cox1, Taenia omissa adult individuals were identified in the cougar, and metacestodes in the red brocket deer, proving the existence of a full host-parasite life cycle in the Atlantic Forest region. This new report reveals the southernmost record of T. omissa and broadens its geographic distribution. In addition, isolates of the Taenia genus divergent from those described so far in molecular databases were reported and suggested a wild cycle that involves the jaguarundi and agouti (Dasyprocta asarae) as definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. These results highlight the complexity of the tapeworm population in the region and the need to study it with both morphological and molecular approaches.
Subject(s)
Cestoda , Deer , Felidae , Puma , Taenia , Humans , Animals , Guinea Pigs , Deer/parasitology , Cestoda/genetics , ForestsABSTRACT
This study performed a serological assay to assess the exposure of free-ranging cougars (Puma concolor) to four selected infectious agents, including Toxoplasma gondii, Leptospira spp., the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Serum samples were collected from 27 free-ranging cougars along the Tietê River Basin, in the central region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The presence of antibodies against T. gondii was detected in 59.3% (16/27) of the serum samples through the modified agglutination test (MAT-t), which was the most prevalent agent. The microscopic agglutination technique (MAT-1) was used to investigate the occurrence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies, showing that 11.1% (3/27) of the sampled cougars were seropositive. The only serovar detected was Djasiman (L. interrogans). A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) licensed for use in domestic felines was used to investigate the occurrence of retroviruses. The ELISA test kits detected a prevalence of 11.1% (3/27) of FIV antibodies, while none of the samples tested showed any evidence of FeLV antigen. These results suggest that free-ranging cougars are exposed to potentially pathogenic agents. This study presented the first recorded occurrence of the serovar Djasiman in P. concolor.
Subject(s)
Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline , Puma , Toxoplasma , Animals , Cats , Brazil/epidemiology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/veterinaryABSTRACT
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasing in extent and intensity across the globe. It has been shown to interfere with animal sensory systems, orientation and distribution, with the potential to cause significant ecological impacts. We analysed the locations of 102 mountain lions (Puma concolor) in a light-polluted region in California. We modelled their distribution relative to environmental and human-disturbance variables, including upward radiance (nearby lights), zenith brightness (sky glow) and natural illumination from moonlight. We found that mountain lion probability of presence was highly related to upward radiance, that is, related to lights within approximately 500 m. Despite a general pattern of avoidance of locations with high upward radiance, there were large differences in degree of avoidance among individuals. The amount of light from artificial sky glow was not influential when included together with upward radiance in the models, and illumination from moonlight was not influential at all. Our results suggest that changes in visibility associated with lunar cycles and sky glow are less important for mountain lions in their selection of light landscapes than avoiding potential interactions with humans represented by the presence of nearby lights on the ground. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'.
Subject(s)
Puma , Animals , Humans , Lighting , Environmental Pollution , Ecosystem , EnvironmentABSTRACT
Predation risk and prey responses exhibit fluctuations in space and time. Seasonal ecological disturbances can alter landscape structure and permeability to influence predator activity and efficacy, creating predictable patterns of risk for prey (seasonal risk landscapes). This may create corresponding seasonal shifts in antipredator behaviour, mediated by species ecology and trade-offs between risk and resources. Yet, how human recreation interacts with seasonal risk landscapes and antipredator behaviour remains understudied. In South Florida, we investigated the impact of a seasonal ecological disturbance, specifically flooding, which is inversely related to human activity, on interactions between Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We hypothesized that human activity and ecological disturbances would interact with panther-deer ecology, resulting in the emergence of two distinct seasonal landscapes of predation risk and the corresponding antipredator responses. We conducted camera trap surveys across southwestern Florida to collect detection data on humans, panthers and deer. We analysed the influence of human site use and flooding on deer and panther detection probability, co-occurrence and diel activity during the flooded and dry seasons. Flooding led to decreased panther detections and increased deer detections, resulting in reduced deer-panther co-occurrence during the flooded season. Panthers exhibited increased nocturnality and reduced diel activity overlap with deer in areas with higher human activity. Supporting our hypothesis, panthers' avoidance of human recreation and flooding created distinct risk schedules for deer, driving their antipredator behaviour. Deer utilized flooded areas to spatially offset predation risk during the flooded season while increasing diurnal activity in response to human recreation during the dry season. We highlight the importance of understanding how competing risks and ecological disturbances influence predator and prey behaviour, leading to the generation of seasonal risk landscapes and antipredator responses. We emphasize the role of cyclical ecological disturbances in shaping dynamic predator-prey interactions. Furthermore, we highlight how human recreation may function as a 'temporal human shield,' altering seasonal risk landscapes and antipredator responses to reduce encounter rates between predators and prey.
Subject(s)
Deer , Puma , Humans , Animals , Deer/physiology , Seasons , Predatory Behavior/physiology , Puma/physiology , Rain , Recreation , EcosystemABSTRACT
In this work, we present hardware and firmware design and preliminary testing results for a noninvasive device for measuring fuel oil consumption in fuel oil vented heaters. Fuel oil vented heaters are a popular space heating method in northern climates. Monitoring fuel consumption is useful to understanding residential daily and seasonal heating patterns and understanding the thermal characteristics of buildings. The device is a pump monitoring apparatus (PuMA) that employs a magnetoresistive sensor to monitor the activity of solenoid driven positive displacement pumps, which are commonly used in fuel oil vented heaters. PuMA accuracy for calculating fuel oil consumption was evaluated in a lab setting and found to vary up to 7% from the measured consumption value during testing. This variance will be explored more in field testing.
Subject(s)
Fuel Oils , Household Articles , Puma , Animals , Heating , ClimateABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective for prenatal insomnia, but unresolved cognitive arousal limits patient outcomes. Therapies aimed at reducing cognitive arousal may benefit pregnant women with insomnia. This proof-of-concept trial evaluated Perinatal Understanding of Mindful Awareness for Sleep (PUMAS, which combines mindfulness with behavioral sleep strategies) on insomnia, depression, and cognitive arousal. METHODS: A single-arm trial of 12 pregnant women with DSM-5 insomnia disorder (n = 5/12 with comorbid depression) who received six sessions of PUMAS delivered individually via telemedicine. Pretreatment and posttreatment outcomes included the insomnia severity index (ISI), Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS), pre-sleep arousal scale's cognitive factor (PSASC; nocturnal cognitive arousal), perinatal-focused rumination (appended to PSASC), and Glasgow sleep effort scale. RESULTS: Eleven of 12 patients completed all sessions. Intent-to-treat analyses revealed a 10.83-point reduction in ISI (Cohen's dz = 3.05), resulting in 83.3% insomnia remission. PUMAS produced large reductions in EPDS (Cohen's dz = 2.76 in depressed group), resulting in all five baseline depressed patients remitting from depression. PUMAS produced large reductions in nocturnal cognitive arousal, perinatal-focused rumination, and sleep effort (all Cohen's dzs>2.00). Patients were highly satisfied with PUMAS and identified the telemedicine format and meditation app as positive features of its delivery. Patients rated sleep restriction and guided meditations as the most helpful treatment components. CONCLUSION: Prenatal insomnia patients were highly engaged in PUMAS, which produced large acute reductions in insomnia, depression, and cognitive arousal. These findings support the concept and feasibility of PUMAS for pregnant women with insomnia who present with or without comorbid depression. GOV ID: NCT04443959.
Subject(s)
Mindfulness , Puma , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Animals , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnant Women/psychology , Sleep , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy , Treatment Outcome , Proof of Concept StudyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition has been shown to induce pharmacologic "BRCAness" in cancer cells with proficient DNA repair activity. This provides a rationale for exploring combination treatments with HDAC and PARP inhibition in cancer types that are insensitive to single-agent PARP inhibitors (PARPi). Here, we report the concept and characterization of a novel bifunctional PARPi (kt-3283) with dual activity toward PARP1/2 and HDAC enzymes in Ewing sarcoma cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Inhibition of PARP1/2 and HDAC was measured using PARP1/2, HDAC activity, and PAR formation assays. Cytotoxicity was assessed by IncuCyte live cell imaging, CellTiter-Glo, and spheroid assays. Cell-cycle profiles were determined using propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. DNA damage was examined by γH2AX expression and comet assay. Inhibition of metastatic potential by kt-3283 was evaluated via ex vivo pulmonary metastasis assay (PuMA). RESULTS: Compared with FDA-approved PARP (olaparib) and HDAC (vorinostat) inhibitors, kt-3283 displayed enhanced cytotoxicity in Ewing sarcoma models. The kt-3283-induced cytotoxicity was associated with strong S and G2-M cell-cycle arrest in nanomolar concentration range and elevated DNA damage as assessed by γH2AX tracking and comet assays. In three-dimensional spheroid models of Ewing sarcoma, kt-3283 showed efficacy in lower concentrations than olaparib and vorinostat, and kt-3283 inhibited colonization of Ewing sarcoma cells in the ex vivo PuMA model. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate the preclinical justification for studying the benefit of dual PARP and HDAC inhibition in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma in a clinical trial and provides proof-of-concept for a bifunctional single-molecule therapeutic strategy.
Subject(s)
Puma , Sarcoma, Ewing , Animals , Humans , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Sarcoma, Ewing/pathology , Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Vorinostat/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Parasites of the Cylicospirura genus are known to affect domestic and wild carnivores by causing the formation of nodules within the gastric mucosa and pyloric region of parasitized animals. C. felineus is a specimen of this genus that has been reported in Brazil in animal species such as Leopardus geoffroyi and Puma concolor. However, as far as the authors of the present study are aware, reports of C. felineus in jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi) do not yet exist. This wild feline species native to the Americas is found only in a few countries - and it is possibly extinct in others, such as the United States. In Brazil, the P. yagouaroundi species is classified as vulnerable by government environmental agencies. Consequently, identifying the diseases and their relevance to this species is of utmost importance for P. yagouaroundi's preservation. This study aims to describe the histopathological lesions found in jaguarundis parasitized by the genus Cylicospirura, and to identify the parasitic species observed in these animals. Eight specimens of P. yagouaroundi necropsied between 2010 and 2020 in the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) in Palotina, Brazil, were studied. Seven specimens were wildlife roadkills, and one was from the Municipal Zoo of Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil. Seven of the necropsied animals presented - in the greater curvature of the stomach, near the cardia - one or more parasitic nodules of 0.5 to 3.0 cm in diameter that contained several intralesional reddish filiform parasites. Histologically, these nodules were characterized as transmural parasitic granulomas surrounded by reaction with deposition of dense connective tissue. The parasitological evaluations by light and scanning electron microscopy identified morphological C. felineus' characteristics through the presence of unequal spicules in males, the position of the vulva, and location of the pedunculated papillae. Despite the gastric lesion caused by the parasite, the apparent low pathogenicity to the gastrointestinal system of the evaluated animals, massive infections or large nodules can lead to death - other members of the Spirocercidae family are known to cause organ rupture, esophageal obstructions, and mesenchymal neoplasms. Therefore, C. felineus should be included in the list of gastric parasites with pathogenic potential in the species P. yagouaroundi.
Subject(s)
Carnivora , Puma , Spiruroidea , Female , Male , Animals , Cats , United States , Puma/parasitology , Brazil , Animals, Wild/parasitology , StomachABSTRACT
The semi-arid Caatinga is the largest dry forest ecoregion in the Americas; nevertheless, it is experiencing alarming rates of habitat loss. Most vegetation fragments in the biome are either unprotected or within private lands; however, these private areas are susceptible to anthropogenic activity, and often have the presence of non-native wildlife such as domestic dogs and cats. Two small felid species, the northern tiger cat and the jaguarundi co-occur throughout the Caatinga and have overlapping niches, which require segregation mechanisms to avoid interference competition. Assessing these species strategies for coexistence is crucial, as it can guide conservation actions. With this aim, a private ranch in the Brazilian Caatinga drylands was surveyed and multi-species occupancy models were used to assess co-occurrence patterns between northern tiger cats and jaguarundis. The degree of temporal overlap between both felids and domestic dogs and cats were also assessed. Evidence was found of positive co-occurrence between tiger cats and jaguarundis, suggesting a lack of spatial segregation at our study site; and low temporal overlap was found between both felids, with tiger cats being nocturnal and jaguarundis diurnal. High temporal overlap was found though between domestic dogs and both wild felid species. Our results suggest that small felids can coexist in private areas of the Caatinga with sufficient habitat. However, there is a need to highlight the potential threat of disease transmission by non-native carnivores as something that should be addressed in these private landscapes.
Subject(s)
Carnivora , Cat Diseases , Dog Diseases , Felidae , Puma , Tigers , Cats , Animals , Dogs , BrazilABSTRACT
While Misiones, Argentina contains one of the largest remnants of Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, only ~50% of this native forest is protected. Each protected area is at risk of becoming an island of native forest surrounded by a matrix of altered habitats due to ongoing land conversion. In an effort to maximize long-term connectivity between existing protected areas, DeMatteo [1] used a multifaceted cost analysis to determine the optimal location for the region's first multispecies corridor using noninvasive data on jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma concolor), ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), southern tiger cats (Leopardus guttulus), and bush dogs (Speothos venaticus). This work builds on this framework by integrating new field data that broadens the scope of species-specific data across the region's heterogeneous landscape, which varies in vegetation, disturbance, human proximity, and protective status. In addition, two different land use layers are compared across the distributions of the five carnivores, the overlap in their independent distributions, and their relationship to the multispecies corridor. Interpretation of these land use data to species-specific habitat suitability goes beyond DeMatteo [1], with a subdivision of suitability into marginal and optimal areas. This refined scale allows a reanalysis of key areas in the multispecies corridor, where connectivity was previously defined as at highly-at-risk, allowing for a more directed development of management strategies. These analyses and their interpretation extend beyond northern-central Misiones, as the threats are not unique to this region. The need to develop management strategies that balance human-wildlife needs will continue to grow as humans expand their footprint. The techniques applied in this analysis provide a way to identify key areas that require specific management strategies, either through restoration, protection, or a combination of both.
Subject(s)
Canidae , Carnivora , Marsupialia , Panthera , Puma , Animals , Humans , Ecosystem , Forests , Conservation of Natural Resources/methodsABSTRACT
Monitoring wildlife populations to determine changing abundance is the basis for conservation strategies and interventions. Monitoring, however, is expensive, and we lack baseline data for countless species and landscapes around the globe. One solution is to utilize methods that leverage observations collected by everyday people. Humans are not only excellent sensors for diverse data, but possess a remarkable ability to process data and differentiate patterns with minimal training. Here, we explored the potential for people, including guides who work in tourism in southern Patagonia, to determine whether paired photographs of puma (Puma concolor puma) faces were the same individual, akin to a computer-led Siamese network analysis. Overall, participants performed well (average score of 92.2 %) and we detected no differences in local people versus those from the USA, or differences due to differential experience working with pumas. Based on these results, we built a historic capture-recapture dataset of individual pumas collected by local guides and report annual abundance for a portion of the Torres del Paine UNESCO Biosphere in southern Chile, an area lacking such data and of critical conservation for the species. Our results highlight the innate capabilities of human computers and their potential for contributing to wildlife surveys in novel ways to increase science capacity.
Subject(s)
Puma , Animals , Humans , Tourism , Animals, Wild , ChileABSTRACT
Mitigating human-caused mortality for large carnivores is a pressing global challenge for wildlife conservation. However, mortality is almost exclusively studied at local (within-population) scales creating a mismatch between our understanding of risk and the spatial extent most relevant to conservation and management of wide-ranging species. Here, we quantified mortality for 590 radio-collared mountain lions statewide across their distribution in California to identify drivers of human-caused mortality and investigate whether human-caused mortality is additive or compensatory. Human-caused mortality, primarily from conflict management and vehicles, exceeded natural mortality despite mountain lions being protected from hunting. Our data indicate that human-caused mortality is additive to natural mortality as population-level survival decreased as a function of increasing human-caused mortality and natural mortality did not decrease with increased human-caused mortality. Mortality risk increased for mountain lions closer to rural development and decreased in areas with higher proportions of citizens voting to support environmental initiatives. Thus, the presence of human infrastructure and variation in the mindset of humans sharing landscapes with mountain lions appear to be primary drivers of risk. We show that human-caused mortality can reduce population-level survival of large carnivores across large spatial scales, even when they are protected from hunting.
Subject(s)
Carnivora , Puma , Animals , Humans , Ecosystem , Ecology , Conservation of Natural ResourcesABSTRACT
Human activities such as habitat degradation and fragmentation threaten biodiversity in Neotropical areas. This work proposes an analytical methodology to identify natural areas in Central America with anthropogenic impact, analyzing the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in accordance with their theoretical relationship with human-related activities. Sixteen ARGs were quantified in feces of different individuals of 13 jaguars (Panthera onca) and 13 pumas (Puma concolor) in three conservation areas in Costa Rica by real-time PCR. At least one ARG was detected in all samples. Of the ARGs encoding tetracycline resistance, the most frequent were tetQ and tetY (85% and 69%, respectively). The sulfonamides (sulI and sulII; 69% each), phenicols (catI and catII; 19% and 54%, respectively), and quinolones (qnrS; 12%) were also detected. The presence of human settlements, livestock farms (pigs, cattle, and poultry), roads, human health centers, flood zones, and rivers were identified within each area to generate an index of human activity. We found no difference between the presence of ARG by roads, agricultural activities, and human settlements (P>0.05). However, tetW showed higher percentages with porcine and bovine farms; both tetY and tetW were more frequent in jaguars than in pumas. Of concern is that many of the most contaminated samples were taken from national parks, such as Braulio Carrillo and Tortuguero, where animals should not have direct contact with humans.