Download or read book Landscape Genetics of Bobcats Lynx Rufus Across Western Texas written by Imogene A. Davis and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Various environmental, ecological, and anthropogenic factors impact the genetic structure of natural populations. I compared the heterozygosity of a highly mobile, generalist species, the bobcat (Lynx rufus), to environmental variables throughout western Texas to determine whether landscape-level changes impact population structure. Tissue samples from 102 bobcats were collected from 5 diverse ecoregions throughout western Texas. Bobcats were genotyped for 9 microsatellite loci to estimate genetic variation and population structure. I observed high genetic variation with little population structure (K=2) throughout western Texas. Bobcats were significant for isolation by distance (P = 0.009), but also exhibited significant differences in allele frequencies throughout the sample set and in comparisons AMONG ecoregions. Bobcats also demonstrated a relatively high inbreeding coefficient (FIS = 0.1002), possibly as a result of philopatry and sensitivity to habitat fragmentation. Factoria l detrended correspondence analysis indicated weak affinity for ecoregion locations within a single cluster, which is likely the result of habitat affinities and local adaptations to a highly variable landscape. To examine specific environmental variables, I performed local and regional scale ordination analyses. Canonical correspondence analyses indicated that ~25% of the variation in heterogeneity was explainable by the nine environmental variables used. At the local level, mesquite-lotebush plant associations most strongly impacted bobcat heterozygosity, while mesquite-lotebush and urbanization were the variables most strongly correlated to increased heterozygosity at the regional scale. Mean patch size, mean patch edge, and Shannon's diversity index of patch size were also selected as meaningful variables for both scales, suggesting the relevance of spatial heterogeneity to bobcat gene flow. Bobcat genetic structu7re in western Texas appears to be partially impacted by habitat variation, vegetation composition, and spatial heterogeneity, though more information is needed to determine if other direct or indirect environmental gradients influence gene flow. There was very little variation in the genetic data, however, which reduced the meaningfulness of any correlations. My study suggested that local variables can impact population structure even when species are highly mobile and occupy variable ranges. As a result, managers should consider a myriad of landscape factors instead of individual barriers before making assumptions about the adaptations and flexibility of ecological generalists. Identifying landscape variables relevant to population structure has important management and conservation implications for maintaining genetic variation in highly mobile populations.
Download or read book Genetic Analysis of a Bobcat lynx Rufus Population in South Texas written by Jan Janecka and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Development of Noninvasive Genetic Techniques to Monitor Elusive Carnivores written by Jennifer Mae White and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Population Genetics and Phylogeography of Bobcats Lynx Rufus Using Microsatellites and Mitochondrial DNA written by Emily Katherine Croteau and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are generalist carnivores with an expansive range from southern Canada to northern Mexico, in which 11 - 12 subspecies have been described. Presently, there is little information on the genetic structure of bobcat populations at large spatial scales. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the current isolation of bobcat populations is a historic feature, or whether recent landscape alterations have disrupted dispersal among previously connected populations. These data reveal that bobcats have not historically experienced large barriers to dispersal. Recent habitat alterations may be disrupting dispersal over large scales.
Download or read book Estimating Seasonal Abundance of Bobcats Lynx Rufus and Coyotes Canis Latrans in East Texas Using a Photographic and Genetic Mark recapture Model written by Abby Elizabeth Davis and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite translocations dating back to 1924, eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) densities in East Texas remain low. Reasons for slow population growth are unknown, and are especially puzzling because wild turkey reintroductions into other portions of the southeastern U.S. have resulted in established and stable or growing populations. Because predation is a predominant cause of mortality for eastern wild turkeys, predation pressure may be a factor limiting the success of wild turkey reintroductions in East Texas. In particular, bobcats (Lynx rufus) and coyotes (Canis latrans) are the most important mammalian predators in East Texas and they have been reported as dominant predators of wild turkey adults and poults. These predators are difficult to study using traditional live-capture methods because of their elusive behavior, low population densities, and nocturnal habits. Due to these challenges, their distribution and abundance may be poorly understood, despite widespread interest and management concerns. Non-invasive survey techniques do not require handling or direct observation of the target species and can provide valuable information about predator population dynamics. I evaluated utility of two non-invasive techniques, remote cameras and fecal genotyping, to estimate seasonal abundance and density of bobcats and coyotes in East Texas. For one month each season in 2009, remote cameras and fecal DNA analysis were used to identify individual bobcats and coyotes on two 1,335 ha study areas in Nacogdoches County in East Texas. I used Program MARK to derive seasonal abundance estimates for each species. I compared the effectiveness and feasibility of remote camera and fecal DNA survey methods for estimating seasonal abundance of these mammalian predators. I concluded that bobcats were sampled most effectively using the photographic mark-recapture method because relatively high photographic capture rates allowed more reliable estimation of seasonal abundance than fecal surveys. Unique natural markings on bobcats greatly facilitated individual identification, especially compared to coyotes. Low numbers of fecal samples limited the utility of fecal DNA surveys. The two techniques provided comparable seasonal abundance estimates for coyotes; however, I placed more confidence in the genetic mark-recapture results because of concerns about behavioral bias in coyotes and the potential for misidentifications due to seasonal changes in pelage. In general, I did not find evidence for unusually high mammalian predator density in East Texas and found only limited evidence for seasonal changes in abundance that coincided with vulnerable life history periods for wild turkeys (e.g., nesting and brood-rearing).
Download or read book Observations on the Genetic Diversity of Bobcat Lynx Rufus Populations in Oklahoma written by Timothy Ewan Mathews McSweeny and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bobcats (Lynx rufus) have been recorded in a majority of counties within the state of Oklahoma, and are regularly harvested for their pelts statewide. There have been a limited number of studies on bobcats in Oklahoma due to annual hunting seasons, human alterations to the environment, and regular long-distance dispersals of male bobcats, questions have been raised regarding the genetic diversity and structure of the population in the state. To better understand the current genetic diversity of Oklahoma's bobcats, tongue samples from harvested individuals were collected by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and deposited in laboratories at the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. I extracted DNA from tissue samples collected across 25 counties and performed fragment analyses using 10 microsatellite loci, plus a sex-determining locus. This allowed me to assess the current genetic structure of bobcats within the state, as well as levels of genetic diversity. My data shows that there is currently a high level of heterozygosity across the state, representing a sustainable level of genetic diversity. Results of genetic structure analyses indicate that there is a single population distributed across the state, allowing for the maintenance of genetic diversity through high levels of gene flow.
Download or read book Assessing Survival and Cause specific Mortality of Bobcats Lynx Rufus in Agriculturally dominated Landscapes of West Central Illinois written by Edward Dean Davis and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Occupancy Abundance and Population Genetics of Bobcats in Western Maryland USA written by Kevin J. Lamp and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Monitoring the status and trends of bobcat (Lynx rufus) distribution, abundance, and population genetics are important to wildlife professionals tasked with bobcat conservation and management. In Maryland, USA, bobcats are expanding their distribution east of bobcat range (i.e., Garrett and Allegany counties, Maryland), likely indicating an increase in abundance and prompting interest in bobcats' status within western Maryland. My objectives were to 1) evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive genetic sampling techniques to detect and individually identify bobcats, 2) evaluate and predict bobcat occupancy, 3) estimate and compare bobcat abundance using 2 methods, and 4) assess bobcat population structure and genetic diversity in western Maryland. I conducted my study on 3 study areas in western Maryland including areas within and surrounding Potomac-Garrett, Savage River, and Green Ridge State Forests. On each study area, I overlaid a 5 x 8 grid network of 40 cells, each cell 5.5 km2 in size, to evenly distribute hair snare and camera locations. During January-March 2019 I conducted hair snaring surveys, scat collection surveys, and snow tracking surveys to compare each non-invasive genetic sampling technique by detections using mitochondrial DNA and individually identified samples using 10 microsatellite loci. During January-March 2019 and 2020, I placed 1 camera in each grid cell and visited cameras weekly to collect photo data and re-bait each location. I used single-season occupancy and Royle-Nichols models to estimate bobcat occupancy and abundance, respectively, over both years and all study areas. I surveyed transects consisting of hiking trails, closed or lightly used roads, and off-highway vehicle trails from May-August 2019 to collect scat samples. I screened scats by species and identified bobcat scats to the individual level for use in spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) models. I assessed population structure using the Bayesian clustering method in program STRUCTURE and principal coordinate analysis. In addition, I examined genetic diversity using heterozygosity and number of alleles per locus.
Download or read book Population Genetic Structure of Bobcats Lynx Rufus in South Dakota written by Stuart C. Fetherston and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Genetic Relationship Among Populations of Bobcats Lynx Rufus Determined by Analysis of Microsatellite Loci written by Jennifer Rae Bowles and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Habitat Occupancy of Bobcats Lynx Rufus in an Urban Fragmented Landscape written by Sean Patrick Dunagan and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 42 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Urbanization subdivides natural landscapes creating isolated fragments separated by novel urban habitats. Species vary in their sensitivity to the process of urban fragmentation where some species can tolerate living in urban areas by exploiting resource subsidies. Mammalian carnivores have been shown to vary in their sensitivity to urban fragmentation where more tolerant species can exploit anthropogenic resources. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) represent an intermediate response to urban fragmentation as they are present in fragmented natural areas but do not thrive in urban development. Bobcats are known to enter urban areas and may tolerate urban fragmented landscapes by harvesting prey from urban environments. Using resource selection functions (RSFs), I modeled the habitat occupancy of 7 female bobcats in the urban fragmented landscape of Thousand Oaks, California. Occupancy models were compared to the distribution and abundance of cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus spp.) to test if bobcats use urban areas due to an inflated urban rabbit population. Bobcats did go into urban areas, primarily at night; however, rabbit densities in urban areas varied more than rabbit densities in natural habitats. Bobcats occurred more frequently in coastal sage scrub habitats and used habitat edges during nocturnal hours. Rabbit densities in natural habitat patches were the most stable with highest densities in natural edge habitats. Bobcats appear to tolerate urban fragmented landscapes by behaviorally adjusting to resource distribution in natural habitat patches, and not by exploiting urban resource subsidizes. As landscapes become more urbanized, the presence of bobcats can be used to evaluate the ecological integrity of natural fragments as bobcat presence in these areas is likely not mitigated by urban resources.
Download or read book Wild Carnivores of New Mexico written by Jean-Luc E. Cartron and published by University of New Mexico Press. This book was released on 2024-02-15 with total page 1145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this first-ever landmark study of New Mexico's wild carnivores, Jean-Luc E. Cartron and Jennifer K. Frey have assembled a team of leading southwestern biologists to explore the animals and the major issues that shape their continued presence in the state and region. The book includes discussions on habitat, evolving or altered ecosystems, and new discoveries about animal behavior and range, and it also provides details on the distribution, habitat associations, life history, population status, management, and conservation needs of individual carnivore species in New Mexico. Like Cartron's award-winning Raptors of New Mexico, Wild Carnivores of New Mexico shares the same emphasis on scientific rigor and thoroughness, high readability, and visual appeal. Each chapter is illustrated with numerous color photographs to help readers visualize unique morphological or life-history traits, habitat, research techniques, and management and conservation issues.
Download or read book Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Sympatric Bobcats Lynx Rufus and Coyotes Canis Latrans in an Agricultural Landscape written by Marlin M. Dart and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 150 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Urban Carnivores written by and published by JHU Press. This book was released on with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Spatial and Temporal Factors Associated with Detections of Bobcats Lynx Rufus and Fishers Martes Pennanti in Western Maryland written by Zoë L. Hanley and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Small Wild Cats written by James G. Sanderson and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2011-10 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the behavior, biology, and conservation of the more than 30 small wild cat species.
Download or read book Linkages in the Landscape written by Andrew F. Bennett and published by IUCN. This book was released on 2003 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The loss and fragmentation of natural habitats is one of the major issues in wildlife management and conservation. Habitat "corridors" are sometimes proposed as an important element within a conservation strategy. Examples are given of corridors both as pathways and as habitats in their own right. Includes detailed reviews of principles relevant to the design and management of corridors, their place in regional approaches to conservation planning, and recommendations for research and management.
