DNA Identification of Mountain Lions Involved in Livestock Predation and Public Safety Incidents and Investigations (original) (raw)
Related papers
Molecular Ecology, 2000
Twelve microsatellite loci were characterized in California mountain lions ( Puma concolor ) and sufficient polymorphism was found to uniquely genotype 62 animals sampled at necropsy. Microsatellite genotypes obtained using mountain lion faecal DNA matched those from muscle for all of 15 individuals examined. DNA from potential prey species and animals whose faeces could be misidentified as mountain lion faeces were reliably distinguished from mountain lions using this microsatellite panel. In a field application of this technique, 32 faecal samples were collected from hiking trails in the Yosemite Valley region where seven mountain lions previously had been captured, sampled, and released. Twelve samples yielded characteristic mountain lion genotypes, three displayed bobcat-type genotypes, and 17 did not amplify. The genotype of one of the 12 mountain lion faecal samples was identical to one of the mountain lions that previously had been captured. Three of the 12 faecal samples yielded identical genotypes, and eight new genotypes were detected in the remaining samples. This analysis provided a minimum estimate of 16 mountain lions (seven identified by capture and nine identified by faecal DNA) living in or travelling through Yosemite Valley from March 1997 to August 1998. Match probabilities (probabilities that identical DNA genotypes would be drawn at random a second time from the population) indicated that the samples with identical genotypes probably came from the same mountain lion. Our results demonstrate that faecal DNA analysis is an effective method for detecting and identifying individual mountain lions.
Genetic analysis of mountain lion (Puma concolor) feces from Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona
Investigations on recent records of mountain lions (Puma concolor) and concurrent declines in desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) on Kofa National Wildlife Refuge have necessitated the determination of the number of mountain lions and their diet on the refuge. Using genetic analysis, we identified mountain lion feces/scats (n=53) from the Kofa and Castle Dome Mountains in southwestern Arizona. We identified 11 individual mountain lions that included at least 6 males and 2 females. We also identified prey species from bone and connective tissue remains inside the mountain lion scats. Our data suggest that a majority of mountain lion diet (62 %) on the refuge is mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). These estimates greatly enhance our knowledge of mountain lions in an area where, historically, their presence was considered transient. Additionally, recognizing the need for reliable species identification and to improve species identification from non-invasive samples, we developed a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) primer set that would enable the amplification of the complete cytochrome b gene from a large number of mammalian species. DNA sequence information obtained from the use of this primer set can be used for the development of mammalian species’ databases and referencing. Overall, this project demonstrates the efficacy of genetic techniques and their potential to provide reliable and necessary information on elusive species to wildlife managers.
Genetic Analysis of Scats Reveals Minimum Number and Sex of Recently Documented Mountain Lions
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2011
Recent records of mountain lions Puma concolor and concurrent declines in desert bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis mexicana on Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona, United States, have prompted investigations to estimate the number of mountain lions occurring there. We performed noninvasive genetic analyses and identified species, individuals, and sex from scat samples collected from the Kofa and Castle Dome Mountains. From 105 scats collected, we identified a minimum of 11 individual mountain lions. These individuals consisted of six males, two females and three of unknown sex. Three of the 11 mountain lions were identified multiple times over the study period. These estimates supplement previously recorded information on mountain lions in an area where they were historically considered only transient. We demonstrate that noninvasive genetic techniques, especially when used in conjunction with camera-trap and radiocollaring methods, can provide additional and reliable information to wildlife managers, particularly on secretive species like the mountain lion.
Experimental evaluation of genetic predator identification from saliva traces on wildlife kills
Journal of Mammalogy, 2015
Identification of predators from saliva traces on game species and/or livestock kills is gaining increasing importance in wildlife management, particularly in areas where direct wildlife-human conflicts regularly occur. When the noninvasive sampling of hairs and scats is difficult, as with rare and elusive predators, saliva samples constitute a potentially useful source of DNA. To test the feasibility of this approach in obtaining an accurate genotype of the predator, we applied an experimental approach. Captive wolves (Canis lupus) and lynxes (Lynx lynx) were allowed to feed on freshly killed roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) pieces for 1 min. After removal, pieces were sampled for saliva traces after 1, 24, and 48 h. Microsatellite analysis revealed that error rates and amplification failure increased sharply over time. While samples collected after 1 and 24 h yielded > 83% complete genotypes, values dropped to < 50% for samples collected after 48 h, of which 7% were incorrect even when consensus genotypes from 9 polymerase chain reactions were obtained. Our results stress the importance of rapid sampling after carcass detection, as well as implementing a multiple-tubes approach when using microsatellite markers for genetic predator identification based on saliva traces.
The South African lion (Panthera leo) population is highly fragmented. One-third of its wild lions occur in small (<1000 km 2 ) reserves. These lions were reintroduced from other areas of the species' historical range. Management practices on these reserves have not prioritized genetic provenance or heterozygosity. These trends potentially constrain the conservation value of these lions. To ensure the best management and long-term survival of these subpopulations as a viable collective population, the provenance and current genetic diversity must be described. Concurrently, poaching of lions to supply a growing market for lion bones in Asia may become a serious conservation challenge in the future. Having a standardized, validated method for matching confiscated lion parts with carcasses will be a key tool in investigating these crimes. We evaluated 28 microsatellites in the African lion using samples from 18 small reserves and 1 captive facility in South Africa, two conservancies in Zimbabwe, and Kruger National and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Parks to determine the loci most suited for population management and forensic genetic applications. Twelve microsatellite loci with a match probability of 1.1 × 10 −5 between siblings were identified for forensics. A further 10 could be added for population genetics studies.
Use of DNA from bite marks to determine species and individual animals that attack humans
Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2014
During the summer of 2008, 6 documented attacks and close encounters with brown bears (Ursus arctos) occurred in the greater Anchorage, Alaska (USA) area. We discuss findings from 2 incidents in which people were mauled within 2 km of each other over a 6-week period and in which it was assumed that a single animal was responsible. To ensure public safety, authorities killed a brown bear implicated in the attacks by circumstantial evidence, though it was not known a priori that the animal was responsible. We extracted DNA from hairs and bite sites on the clothing of both victims and determined species and individual identity of the animal(s) involved in both incidents. Genetic data indicated the brown bear killed by authorities was responsible for one of the maulings, but not both. This research demonstrates that DNAbased techniques, with appropriate sampling, can provide unambiguous identification of animals involved in attacks, as well as provide reasonable justification for excluding others. Because DNA-based techniques can unequivocally identify individual bears carrying out attacks, they should be considered a standard method employed in wildlife attack investigations. Ó
Conservation Genetics Resources, 2022
The mountain lion (Puma concolor) is one of the few remaining large predators in California, USA with density estimation from fecal genotypes becoming an essential component of conservation and management. In highly urbanized southern California, mountain lions are fragmented into small, inbred populations making proper marker selection critical for individual identification. We developed a panel of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers that can be used for consistent, routine mountain lion monitoring by different laboratories. We used a subset of existing Illumina HiSeq data for 104 individuals from throughout California to design a single, highly heterozygous multiplex of 95 SNPs for the Fluidigm platform. This panel confidently differentiates individual mountain lions, identifies sex, and discriminates mountain lions from bobcats. The panel performed well on fecal DNA extracts and based on design, had sufficient resolution to differentiate individual genotypes in even the ...
The Journal of heredity
The South African lion (Panthera leo) population is highly fragmented. One-third of its wild lions occur in small (<1000 km(2)) reserves. These lions were reintroduced from other areas of the species' historical range. Management practices on these reserves have not prioritized genetic provenance or heterozygosity. These trends potentially constrain the conservation value of these lions. To ensure the best management and long-term survival of these subpopulations as a viable collective population, the provenance and current genetic diversity must be described. Concurrently, poaching of lions to supply a growing market for lion bones in Asia may become a serious conservation challenge in the future. Having a standardized, validated method for matching confiscated lion parts with carcasses will be a key tool in investigating these crimes. We evaluated 28 microsatellites in the African lion using samples from 18 small reserves and 1 captive facility in South Africa, two conserva...
Genetic structure of mountain lion (Puma concolor) populations in California
Conservation …, 2003
Analysis of 12 microsatellite loci from 431 mountain lions (Puma concolor) revealed distinct genetic subdivision that was associated with geographic barriers and isolation by distance in California. Levels of genetic variation differed among geographic regions, and mountain lions that inhabited coastal areas exhibited less heterozygosity than those sampled inland.
Population size of lions in Yankari Game Reserve as revealed by faecal DNA sampling
2010
Studies have shown that lion (Panthera leo) populations in West Africa are small, isolated and fragmented. In Nigeria, lions have disappeared from unprotected areas and are nowadays found only in parks and reserves where these populations may still decline. It is therefore urgent to obtain reliable estimates of population sizes at different localities. Direct observational surveys may either fail to count all individuals or count some individuals repeatedly and are therefore associated with unknown levels of estimation errors. More accurate estimates can be obtained if direct counting is combined with DNA-based individual identification. As lions are difficult to identify individually, presented here is a method that can be a valuable addition to the existing census methods.