| picobirnavirus in captive animals from uruguay: identification of new hosts. | the picobirnaviruses (pbvs) have been detected in several species of animals from different countries worldwide, including in south america. the host range of these viruses has increased in recent years; thus, in order to contribute to the knowledge in this topic we analyzed samples from captivity animals from uruguay. we found the presence of pbvs in four species of animals, panthera leo, panthera onca, puma concolor and oncifelis geoffroyi, representing new pbv-susceptible hosts. all strains b ... | 2013 | 22759924 |
| evaluating apparent competition in limiting the recovery of an endangered ungulate. | predation can disproportionately affect endangered prey populations when generalist predators are numerically linked to more abundant primary prey. apparent competition, the term for this phenomenon, has been increasingly implicated in the declines of endangered prey populations. we examined the potential for apparent competition to limit the recovery of sierra nevada bighorn sheep (ovis canadensis sierrae), an endangered subspecies under the us endangered species act. using a combination of loc ... | 2013 | 22791131 |
| behavioral response races, predator-prey shell games, ecology of fear, and patch use of pumas and their ungulate prey. | the predator-prey shell game predicts random movement of prey across the landscape, whereas the behavioral response race and landscape of fear models predict that there should be a negative relationship between the spatial distribution of a predator and its behaviorally active prey. additionally, prey have imperfect information on the whereabouts of their predator, which the predator should incorporate in its patch use strategy. i used a one-predator-one-prey system, puma (puma concolor)-mule de ... | 2010 | 21058559 |
| echinococcus oligarthrus in the subtropical region of argentina: first integration of morphological and molecular analyses determines two distinct populations. | echinococcosis is a parasitic zoonosis that is considered as a neglected disease by the world health organization. the species echinococcus oligarthrus is one of the causative agents of neotropical echinococcosis, which is a poorly understood disease that requires a complex medical examination, may threaten human life, and is frequently associated with a low socioeconomic status. morphological and genetic diversity in e. oligarthrus remains unknown. the aim of this work is to identify and charac ... | 2017 | 28433410 |
| basic haematological values in carnivores--ii. the felidae. | 1. basic haematological values in 34 animals of eight carnivorous species are reported. 2. in four northern lynxs (lynx lynx lynx), two male and two female animals, the mean values are given: erythrocyte counts 8.51 x 10(12)/l, haematocrit 0.392/l, haemoglobin content 148.0 g/l and leukocyte count 7.92 x 10(9)/l. 3. in six male pumas (puma concolor missolensis) the mean values estimated are: erythrocyte count 9.35 x 10(12)/l, haematocrit 0.43/l, haemoglobin content 163.9 g/l and leukocyte count ... | 1987 | 2886279 |
| energetics and evasion dynamics of large predators and prey: pumas vs. hounds. | quantification of fine-scale movement, performance, and energetics of hunting by large carnivores is critical for understanding the physiological underpinnings of trophic interactions. this is particularly challenging for wide-ranging terrestrial canid and felid predators, which can each affect ecosystem structure through distinct hunting modes. to compare free-ranging pursuit and escape performance from group-hunting and solitary predators in unprecedented detail, we calibrated and deployed acc ... | 2017 | 28828280 |
| daily rhythmicity of behavior of nine species of south american feral felids in captivity. | the authors analyzed the daily activity rhythms of the domestic cat and of eight of the ten feral felid species that are indigenous to south america. all species showed daily rhythmicity of activity in captivity under a natural light-dark cycle. the robustness of the rhythmicity varied from species to species, but the grand mean of 34% was within the range of robustness previously described for mammalian species ranging in size from mice to cattle. there was not a sharp division between diurnal ... | 2017 | 28842189 |
| values, animal symbolism, and human-animal relationships associated to two threatened felids in mapuche and chilean local narratives. | the chilean temperate rainforest has been subjected to dramatic fragmentation for agriculture and forestry exploitation. carnivore species are particularly affected by fragmentation and the resulting resource use conflicts with humans. this study aimed at understanding values and human-animal relationships with negatively perceived threatened carnivores through the disclosure of local stories and mapuche traditional folktales. | 2013 | 23764186 |
| using niche-modelling and species-specific cost analyses to determine a multispecies corridor in a fragmented landscape. | misiones, argentina, contains the largest remaining tract of upper paraná atlantic forest ecoregion; however, ~50% of native forest is unprotected and located in a mosaic of plantations, agriculture, and pastures. existing protected areas are becoming increasingly isolated due to ongoing habitat modification. these factors, combined with lower than expected regional carnivore densities, emphasize the need to understand the effect of fragmentation on animal movement and connectivity between prote ... | 2017 | 28841692 |
| a comparative analysis of genetic diversity and structure in jaguars (panthera onca), pumas (puma concolor), and ocelots (leopardus pardalis) in fragmented landscapes of a critical mesoamerican linkage zone. | with increasing anthropogenic impact and landscape change, terrestrial carnivore populations are becoming more fragmented. thus, it is crucial to genetically monitor wild carnivores and quantify changes in genetic diversity and gene flow in response to these threats. this study combined the use of scat detector dogs and molecular scatology to conduct the first genetic study on wild populations of multiple neotropical felids coexisting across a fragmented landscape in belize, central america. we ... | 2016 | 26974968 |
| [population estimates and conservation of felids (carnivora: felidae) in northern quintana roo, mexico]. | wildlife density estimates provide an idea of the current state of populations, and in some cases, reflect the conservation status of ecosystems, essential aspects for effective management actions. in mexico, several regions have been identified as high priority areas for the conservation of species that have some level of risk, like the yucatan peninsula (yp), where the country has the largest population of jaguars. however, little is known about the current status of threatened and endangered ... | 2015 | 26666134 |
| ocelot population status in protected brazilian atlantic forest. | forest fragmentation and habitat loss are detrimental to top carnivores, such as jaguars (panthera onca) and pumas (puma concolor), but effects on mesocarnivores, such as ocelots (leopardus pardalis), are less clear. ocelots need native forests, but also might benefit from the local extirpation of larger cats such as pumas and jaguars through mesopredator release. we used a standardized camera trap protocol to assess ocelot populations in six protected areas of the atlantic forest in southeaster ... | 2015 | 26560347 |
| using detection dogs and genetic analyses of scat to expand knowledge and assist felid conservation in misiones, argentina. | many carnivores require large ranges to meet their ecological and energetic needs; however, anthropogenic changes threaten species and their habitats. camera traps have been used to effectively collect data on carnivores in a variety of habitat types; however, a single survey effort is typically limited to species that have similar body size, habitat use and movement patterns, and individual identification of animals is not always possible. we evaluated whether scat detection dogs could effectiv ... | 2014 | 25236691 |
| noninvasive individual and species identification of jaguars (panthera onca), pumas (puma concolor) and ocelots (leopardus pardalis) in belize, central america using cross-species microsatellites and faecal dna. | there is a great need to develop efficient, noninvasive genetic sampling methods to study wild populations of multiple, co-occurring, threatened felids. this is especially important for molecular scatology studies occurring in challenging tropical environments where dna degrades quickly and the quality of faecal samples varies greatly. we optimized 14 polymorphic microsatellite loci for jaguars (panthera onca), pumas (puma concolor) and ocelots (leopardus pardalis) and assessed their utility for ... | 2014 | 24751217 |
| effects of porcine zona pellucida immunocontraceptives in zoo felids. | methods of contraception are necessary for management of zoo felids; however, the most commonly used contraceptive (melengestrol acetate implant) is associated with serious adverse reactions with long-term use. porcine zona pellucida (pzp) vaccines are promising as contraceptives, but their safety in zoo felids has not been tested. pzp vaccine was administered to 27 female felids representing 10 species, including african lion (panthera leo), asian leopard (p. pardus), jaguar (p. onca), tiger (p ... | 2004 | 15526881 |
| oxygen isotope composition of north american bobcat (lynx rufus) and puma (puma concolor) bone phosphate: implications for provenance and climate reconstruction. | feline carnivores are threatened by illegal wildlife trade. tracing the provenance of unknown felid tissues via stable isotope analysis could provide important information in wildlife crime investigations. the oxygen isotope composition of mammalian skeletal phosphate (δ(18)op) is widely applied to trace the origin of animal remains and to reconstruct migratory patterns in palaeontological, archaeological, ecological and wildlife forensic applications. teeth and bones of terrestrial mammals form ... | 2016 | 27002600 |
| interspecific interactions between wild felids vary across scales and levels of urbanization. | ongoing global landscape change resulting from urbanization is increasingly linked to changes in species distributions and community interactions. however, relatively little is known about how urbanization influences competitive interactions among mammalian carnivores, particularly related to wild felids. we evaluated interspecific interactions between medium- and large-sized carnivores across a gradient of urbanization and multiple scales. specifically, we investigated spatial and temporal inte ... | 2015 | 26811767 |
| photoreceptor degeneration in a mountain lion cub (puma concolor). | an orphaned 4-mo-old female mountain lion cub ( puma concolor ) was captured along the coastline in montaña de oro state park in los osos, california, usa. following suspicion that the cub was visually impaired, ophthalmic examination revealed diffuse bilateral retinal atrophy. due to a poor prognosis, humane euthanasia was elected. necropsy and histopathological findings were consistent with photoreceptor degeneration. based on the cub's signalment, history, and histopathology, a genetic or nut ... | 2016 | 28080904 |
| dental and temporomandibular joint pathology of the california mountain lion (puma concolor couguar). | skulls from 91 california mountain lions (puma concolor couguar) were examined macroscopically and radiographically. the majority of the skulls were from young adult animals (57.1%). the skull specimens were from 42 male (46.1%) and 34 female (37.4%) animals, while the gender was unknown for the remainder. the majority (94.5%) of teeth were present for examination. only 11 teeth were identified as absent congenitally; five of these teeth were maxillary first molar teeth and three were maxillary ... | 2017 | 28024874 |
| hunting as a management tool? cougar-human conflict is positively related to trophy hunting. | overexploitation and persecution of large carnivores resulting from conflict with humans comprise major causes of declines worldwide. although little is known about the interplay between these mortality types, hunting of predators remains a common management strategy aimed at reducing predator-human conflict. emerging theory and data, however, caution that such policy can alter the age structure of populations, triggering increased conflict in which conflict-prone juveniles are involved. | 2016 | 27729084 |
| interactions between demography, genetics, and landscape connectivity increase extinction probability for a small population of large carnivores in a major metropolitan area. | the extinction vortex is a theoretical model describing the process by which extinction risk is elevated in small, isolated populations owing to interactions between environmental, demographic, and genetic factors. however, empirical demonstrations of these interactions have been elusive. we modelled the dynamics of a small mountain lion population isolated by anthropogenic barriers in greater los angeles, california, to evaluate the influence of demographic, genetic, and landscape factors on ex ... | 2016 | 27581877 |
| fractured genetic connectivity threatens a southern california puma (puma concolor) population. | pumas (puma concolor; also known as mountain lions and cougars) in southern california live among a burgeoning human population of roughly 20 million people. yet little is known of the consequences of attendant habitat loss and fragmentation, and human-caused puma mortality to puma population viability and genetic diversity. we examined genetic status of pumas in coastal mountains within the peninsular ranges south of los angeles, in san diego, riverside, and orange counties. the santa ana mount ... | 2014 | 25295530 |
| individual behaviors dominate the dynamics of an urban mountain lion population isolated by roads. | large carnivores can be particularly sensitive to the effects of habitat fragmentation on genetic diversity [1, 2]. the santa monica mountains (smms), a large natural area within greater los angeles, is completely isolated by urban development and the 101 freeway to the north. yet the smms support a population of mountain lions (puma concolor), a very rare example of a large carnivore persisting within the boundaries of a megacity. gps locations of radio-collared lions indicate that freeways are ... | 2014 | 25131676 |
| cougars' key to survival through the late pleistocene extinction: insights from dental microwear texture analysis. | cougars (puma concolor) are one of only two large cats in north america to have survived the late pleistocene extinction (lpe), yet the specific key(s) to their relative success remains unknown. here, we compare the dental microwear textures of pleistocene cougars with sympatric felids from the la brea tar pits in southern california that went extinct at the lpe (panthera atrox and smilodon fatalis), to clarify potential dietary factors that led to the cougar's persistence through the lpe. we fu ... | 2014 | 24759373 |
| where do you come from, where do you go? directional migration rates in landscape genetics. | identifying landscape elements that influence gene flow and migration in wild species is the current main topic of landscape genetics. most landscape genetic studies infer gene flow and migration from genetic distances among populations or individuals and statistically relate these measurements to landscape composition and configuration. this approach assumes symmetrical gene flow between pairs of populations. such an assumption, however, will often be violated, especially in source–sink systems ... | 2012 | 23310963 |
| birth timing for mountain lions (puma concolor); testing the prey availability hypothesis. | we investigated potential advantages in birth timing for mountain lion (puma concolor) cubs. we examined cub body mass, survival, and age of natal dispersal in relation to specific timing of birth. we also investigated the role of maternal age relative to timing of births. we captured mountain lion cubs while in the natal den to determine birth date, which allowed for precise estimates of the population birth pulse and age of natal dispersal. a birth pulse occurred during june-august. body mass ... | 2012 | 23028569 |
| demographic history of an elusive carnivore: using museums to inform management. | elusive carnivores present a challenge to managers because traditional survey methods are not suitable. we applied a genetic approach using museum specimens to examine how historical and recent conditions influenced the demographic history of puma concolor in western and southern texas, usa. we used 10 microsatellite loci and indexed population trends by estimating historical and recent genetic diversity, genetic differentiation and effective population size. mountain lions in southern texas exh ... | 2012 | 23028402 |
| identification of source-sink dynamics in mountain lions of the great basin. | natural and anthropogenic boundaries have been shown to affect population dynamics and population structure for many species with movement patterns at the landscape level. understanding population boundaries and movement rates in the field for species that are cryptic and occur at low densities is often extremely difficult and logistically prohibitive; however genetic techniques may offer insights that have previously been unattainable. we analysed thirteen microsatellite loci for 739 mountain l ... | 2012 | 22934825 |
| pride diaries: sex, brain size and sociality in the african lion (panthera leo) and cougar (puma concolor). | the purpose of this study was to examine if differences in social life histories correspond to intraspecific variation in total or regional brain volumes in the african lion (panthera leo) and cougar (puma concolor). african lions live in gregarious prides usually consisting of related adult females, their dependent offspring, and a coalition of immigrant males. upon reaching maturity, male lions enter a nomadic and often, solitary phase in their lives, whereas females are mainly philopatric and ... | 2012 | 22722087 |
| genetic structure and conservation of mountain lions in the south-brazilian atlantic rain forest. | the brazilian atlantic rain forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems worldwide, is also among the most important hotspots as regards biodiversity. through intensive logging, the initial area has been reduced to around 12% of its original size. in this study we investigated the genetic variability and structure of the mountain lion, puma concolor. using 18 microsatellite loci we analyzed evidence of allele dropout, null alleles and stuttering, calculated the number of allele/locus, pic, obse ... | 2012 | 22481876 |
| investigation of scents on cheeks and foreheads of large felines in connection to the facial marking behavior. | we investigated head- and cheek-rubbing behavior in four species of large felines, lions (leo panther), leopards (panthera pardus), tigers (panthera tigris), and cougars (puma concolor), in captivity. preliminary behavioral observations found that lions and tigers, but not leopards and cougars, showed behavioral responses to cardboard rubbing samples from head and cheek areas from conspecific felines, compared to the blank cardboard controls. in this context, surface samples on the facial areas ... | 2012 | 22354638 |
| conserving connectivity: some lessons from mountain lions in southern california. | habitat corridors can be essential for persistence of wildlife populations in fragmented landscapes. although much research has focused on identifying species and places critical for conservation action, the conservation literature contains surprisingly few examples of corridors that actually have been protected and so provides little guidance for moving from planning through implementation. we examined a case study from southern california that combines monitoring of radio-collared mountain lio ... | 2009 | 18983604 |
| suspected secondary thiafentanil intoxication in a captive mountain lion (puma concolor). | inadvertent ingestion of thiafentanil oxalate by a captive adult female mountain lion (puma concolor) caused a prolonged clinical syndrome that included sedation and depression, muscle tension, and myopathy that was incompletely antagonized by naltrexone hcl. a serum chemistry profile revealed markedly elevated creatinine phosphokinase (ck; 490,450 iu/l), alanine aminotransferase (alt; 1,896 iu/l), and aspartate aminotransferase (ast; 4,321 iu/l) 2 days after onset. the affected animal's conditi ... | 2005 | 16456179 |
| functional thyroid follicular adenocarcinoma in a captive mountain lion (felis concolor). | | 1992 | 1448904 |
| hematology and blood chemistry of the mountain lion (felis concolor). | | 1982 | 7097878 |
| puma, american lion, cougar, or felis concolor? | | 1969 | 4180103 |
| [identification of individual jaguars (panthera onca) and pumas (puma concolor) based on footprint morphometry (carnivora: felidae)]. | estimating feline abundance becomes particularly difficult, sometimes impossible, due to their elusive behavior and extensive space requirements. available techniques are expensive and/or poorly efficient, therefore alternative methods are needed. the objective of this study was to assess the possibility of identifying individual jaguars and pumas based on morphometric analyses of their tracks. the footprints of five jaguars and four pumas were drawn and the foot (hind or fore foot, left or righ ... | 2008 | 19419090 |
| development and testing of an optimized method for dna-based identification of jaguar (panthera onca) and puma (puma concolor) faecal samples for use in ecological and genetic studies. | the elusive nature and endangered status of most carnivore species imply that efficient approaches for their non-invasive sampling are required to allow for genetic and ecological studies. faecal samples are a major potential source of information, and reliable approaches are needed to foster their application in this field, particularly in areas where few studies have been conducted. a major obstacle to the reliable use of faecal samples is their uncertain species-level identification in the fi ... | 2009 | 19137401 |
| biogeographic variation of food habits and body size of the america puma. | the puma (felis concolor) has the most extensive range of any terrestrial mammal in the western hemisphere, covering over 100° latitude. food habits of different puma subspecies vary with latitude. subspecies from temperate habitats generally eat larger prey and specialize on a smaller number of prey taxa, whereas, in tropical habitats, they prey on smaller, more varied prey. in north america, ungulates (primarily deer) represented 68% of the puma's diet by frequency of occurrence. mean weight o ... | 1990 | 28312554 |
| effect of bungee-carcass enrichment on behavior and fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in two species of zoo-housed felids. | enrichment can improve animal physiological and psychological well-being. this study sought to promote more natural felid behavior and prevent development or incidence of stereotypies through the use of a feeding enrichment. our objectives are to use fecal glucocorticoid metabolites values and behavioral observations to quantify the effectiveness of the enrichment device for two species of large cats, bengal tiger (panthera tigris tigris; n = 2) and cougar (felis concolor; n = 2). the feeding en ... | 2015 | 25492384 |
| apex predators, rockshelters, and zoonoses in the patagonian holocene. | carnivorous mammals are a trophic guild with an important role in the dissemination of parasite infective stages (larvae, eggs, cysts, and oocysts). in the present study, new samples of coprolites attributed to carnivorous mammals, obtained from two archaeological caves, were analyzed for the presence of parasites, with the aim to increase the knowledge about parasites in rockshelters that could have spread to humans and other mammals. to this purpose, fragments of 3 coprolites from cerro casa d ... | 2017 | 28783428 |
| fear of the human 'super predator' reduces feeding time in large carnivores. | large carnivores' fear of the human 'super predator' has the potential to alter their feeding behaviour and result in human-induced trophic cascades. however, it has yet to be experimentally tested if large carnivores perceive humans as predators and react strongly enough to have cascading effects on their prey. we conducted a predator playback experiment exposing pumas to predator (human) and non-predator control (frog) sounds at puma feeding sites to measure immediate fear responses to humans ... | 2017 | 28637855 |
| modeling connectivity to identify current and future anthropogenic barriers to movement of large carnivores: a case study in the american southwest. | this study sought to identify critical areas for puma (puma concolor) movement across the state of arizona in the american southwest and to identify those most likely to be impacted by current and future human land uses, particularly expanding urban development and associated increases in traffic volume. human populations in this region are expanding rapidly, with the potential for urban centers and busy roads to increasingly act as barriers to demographic and genetic connectivity of large-bodie ... | 2017 | 28616173 |
| multi-level, multi-scale resource selection functions and resistance surfaces for conservation planning: pumas as a case study. | the importance of examining multiple hierarchical levels when modeling resource use for wildlife has been acknowledged for decades. multi-level resource selection functions have recently been promoted as a method to synthesize resource use across nested organizational levels into a single predictive surface. analyzing multiple scales of selection within each hierarchical level further strengthens multi-level resource selection functions. we extend this multi-level, multi-scale framework to model ... | 2017 | 28609466 |
| a single migrant enhances the genetic diversity of an inbred puma population. | migration is essential for maintaining genetic diversity among populations, and pumas (puma concolor) provide an excellent model for studying the genetic impacts of migrants on populations isolated by increasing human development. in densely populated southern california, usa, puma populations on the east and west side of interstate highway 15 (i-15) have become fragmented into a small inbred population on the west side (santa ana mountains) and a relatively larger, more diverse population on th ... | 2017 | 28573020 |
| the challenge of monitoring elusive large carnivores: an accurate and cost-effective tool to identify and sex pumas (puma concolor) from footprints. | acquiring reliable data on large felid populations is crucial for effective conservation and management. however, large felids, typically solitary, elusive and nocturnal, are difficult to survey. tagging and following individuals with vhf or gps technology is the standard approach, but costs are high and these methodologies can compromise animal welfare. such limitations can restrict the use of these techniques at population or landscape levels. in this paper we describe a robust technique to id ... | 2017 | 28273159 |
| evolutionary and functional mitogenomics associated with the genetic restoration of the florida panther. | florida panthers are endangered pumas that currently persist in reduced patches of habitat in south florida, usa. we performed mitogenome reference-based assemblies for most parental lines of the admixed florida panthers that resulted from the introduction of female texas pumas into south florida in 1995. with the addition of 2 puma mitogenomes, we characterized 174 single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) across 12 individuals. we defined 5 haplotypes (pco1-pco5), one of which (pco1) had a geogra ... | 2017 | 28204600 |
| incorporating periodic variability in hidden markov models for animal movement. | clustering time-series data into discrete groups can improve prediction and provide insight into the nature of underlying, unobservable states of the system. however, temporal variation in probabilities of group occupancy, or the rates at which individuals move between groups, can obscure such signals. we use finite mixture and hidden markov models (hmms), two standard clustering techniques, to model long-term hourly movement data from florida panthers (puma concolor coryi). allowing for tempora ... | 2017 | 28149522 |
| puma (puma concolor) epididymal sperm morphometry. | the andean puma (puma concolor) has not been widely studied, particularly in reference to its semen characteristics. the aim of the present study was to define the morphometry of puma sperm heads and classify their subpopulations by cluster analysis. samples were recovered postmortem from two epididymides from one animal and prepared for morphological observation after staining with the hemacolor kit. morphometric data were obtained from 581 spermatozoa using a casa-morph system, rendering 13 mo ... | 2017 | 27678466 |
| the occurrence of trichinella species in the cougar puma concolor couguar from the state of colorado and other regions of north and south america. | trichinella species are zoonotic nematodes that infect wild carnivores and omnivores throughout the world. we examined the prevalence and species of trichinella infections in cougars (puma concolor couguar) from colorado, united states. tongues from cougars were examined by pepsin-hcl artificial digestion to detect trichinella spp. larvae. the species or genotype of individual worms was identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (pcr). trichinella spp. larvae were detected in 17 of 39 cou ... | 2017 | 27582037 |
| first records of canis dirus and smilodon fatalis from the late pleistocene tule springs local fauna, upper las vegas wash, nevada. | late pleistocene groundwater discharge deposits (paleowetlands) in the upper las vegas wash north of las vegas, nevada, have yielded an abundant and diverse vertebrate fossil assemblage, the tule springs local fauna (tslf). the tslf is the largest open-site vertebrate fossil assemblage dating to the rancholabrean north american land mammal age in the southern great basin and mojave desert. over 600 discrete body fossil localities have been recorded from the wash, including an area that now encom ... | 2016 | 27366649 |
| evaluating the responses of a territorial solitary carnivore to potential mates and competitors. | successful communication is critical to the fitness of individuals and maintenance of populations, but less is known regarding the social contexts and reactions to scent marking by other individuals in solitary carnivores, including pumas. we evaluated the responses of resident male pumas to visitation and scent marking by potential competitors (other male pumas) and potential mates (female pumas) by capturing and marking 46 pumas (puma concolor), and documenting scent marking behaviours using m ... | 2016 | 27251230 |
| the role of scent marking in mate selection by female pumas (puma concolor). | mate selection influences individual fitness, is often based on complex cues and behaviours, and can be difficult to study in solitary species including carnivores. we used motion-triggered cameras at 29 community scrapes (i.e. scent marking locations used by multiple individuals) and home range data from 39 gps-collared pumas (puma concolor) to assess the relevance of communication behaviours for mate selection by female pumas in california. female pumas visited community scrapes irregularly an ... | 2015 | 26489008 |
| improvements on gps location cluster analysis for the prediction of large carnivore feeding activities: ground-truth detection probability and inclusion of activity sensor measures. | animal space use studies using gps collar technology are increasingly incorporating behavior based analysis of spatio-temporal data in order to expand inferences of resource use. gps location cluster analysis is one such technique applied to large carnivores to identify the timing and location of feeding events. for logistical and financial reasons, researchers often implement predictive models for identifying these events. we present two separate improvements for predictive models that future p ... | 2015 | 26398546 |
| spatial overlap in a solitary carnivore: support for the land tenure, kinship or resource dispersion hypotheses? | there are several alternative hypotheses about the effects of territoriality, kinship and prey availability on individual carnivore distributions within populations. the first is the land-tenure hypothesis, which predicts that carnivores regulate their density through territoriality and temporal avoidance. the second is the kinship hypothesis, which predicts related individuals will be clumped within populations, and the third is the resource dispersion hypothesis, which suggests that resource r ... | 2016 | 26395576 |
| space-use, movement and dispersal of sub-adult cougars in a geographically isolated population. | cougar (puma concolor) observations have increased in midwest north america, with breeding populations re-establishing in several regions east of their contemporary range. the cypress hills uplands, located in southwest saskatchewan and southeast alberta, was recently re-colonized by cougars and now supports the easternmost confirmed breeding population of cougars in canada. a number of factors contribute to this cougar range expansion, but it is dispersal that provides the mechanism for re-colo ... | 2015 | 26290786 |
| survival and mortality of pumas (puma concolor) in a fragmented, urbanizing landscape. | wide-ranging large carnivores pose myriad challenges for conservation, especially in highly fragmented landscapes. over a 13-year period, we combined monitoring of radio collared pumas (puma concolor) with complementary multi-generational genetic analyses to inform puma conservation in southern california, usa. our goals were to generate survivorship estimates, determine causes of mortality, identify barriers to movement, and determine the genetic and demographic challenges to puma persistence a ... | 2015 | 26177290 |
| the comparative effects of large carnivores on the acquisition of carrion by scavengers. | pumas (puma concolor) and black bears (ursus americanus) are large carnivores that may influence scavenger population dynamics. we used motion-triggered video cameras deployed at deer carcasses to determine how pumas and black bears affected three aspects of carrion acquisition by scavengers: presence, total feeding time, and mean feeding-bout duration. we found that pumas were unable to limit acquisition of carrion by large carnivores but did limit aspects of carrion acquisition by both birds a ... | 2015 | 25996866 |
| is there a single best estimator? selection of home range estimators using area-under-the-curve. | global positioning system (gps) technology for monitoring home range and movements of wildlife has resulted in prohibitively large sample sizes of locations for traditional estimators of home range. we used area-under-the-curve to explore the fit of 8 estimators of home range to data collected with both gps and concurrent very high frequency (vhf) technology on a terrestrial mammal, the florida panther puma concolor coryi, to evaluate recently developed and traditional estimators. | 2015 | 25973204 |
| malignant paraganglioma in a cougar (puma concolor). | a 7½-yr-old male cougar (puma concolor) was presented with a 2-wk history of progressive hindlimb abnormalities. an abdominal mass was palpated on physical examination. computed tomography of the abdomen showed a mass surrounding the left ureter. a postmortem diagnosis of paraganglioma was established. | 2014 | 25632701 |
| top carnivores increase their kill rates on prey as a response to human-induced fear. | the fear induced by predators on their prey is well known to cause behavioural adjustments by prey that can ripple through food webs. little is known, however, about the analogous impacts of humans as perceived top predators on the foraging behaviour of carnivores. here, we investigate the influence of human-induced fear on puma foraging behaviour using location and prey consumption data from 30 tagged individuals living along a gradient of human development. we observed strong behavioural respo ... | 2015 | 25608884 |
| habitat capacity for cougar recolonization in the upper great lakes region. | recent findings indicate that cougars (puma concolor) are expanding their range into the midwestern united states. confirmed reports of cougar in michigan, minnesota, and wisconsin have increased dramatically in frequency during the last five years, leading to speculation that cougars may re-establish in the upper great lakes (ugl) region, usa. recent work showed favorable cougar habitat in northeastern minnesota, suggesting that the northern forested regions of michigan and wisconsin may have s ... | 2014 | 25389761 |
| effects of hunting on cougar spatial organization. | the effects of increased mortality on the spatial dynamics of solitary carnivores are not well understood. we examined the spatial ecology of two cougar populations that differed in hunting intensity to test whether increased mortality affected home range size and overlap. the stability hypothesis predicts that home range size and overlap will be similar for both sexes among the two areas. the instability hypothesis predicts that home range size and overlap will be greater in the heavily hunted ... | 2014 | 25360259 |
| mammalian energetics. instantaneous energetics of puma kills reveal advantage of felid sneak attacks. | pumas (puma concolor) live in diverse, often rugged, complex habitats. the energy they expend for hunting must account for this complexity but is difficult to measure for this and other large, cryptic carnivores. we developed and deployed a physiological smart (species movement, acceleration, and radio tracking) collar that used accelerometry to continuously monitor energetics, movements, and behavior of free-ranging pumas. this felid species displayed marked individuality in predatory activitie ... | 2014 | 25278610 |
| hidden semi-markov models reveal multiphasic movement of the endangered florida panther. | animals must move to find food and mates, and to avoid predators; movement thus influences survival and reproduction, and ultimately determines fitness. precise description of movement and understanding of spatial and temporal patterns as well as relationships with intrinsic and extrinsic factors is important both for theoretical and applied reasons. we applied hidden semi-markov models (hsmm) to hourly geographic positioning system (gps) location data to understand movement patterns of the enda ... | 2015 | 25251870 |
| the dynamic proliferation of cansines mirrors the complex evolution of feliforms. | repetitive short interspersed elements (sines) are retrotransposons ubiquitous in mammalian genomes and are highly informative markers to identify species and phylogenetic associations. of these, sines unique to the order carnivora (cansines) yield novel insights on genome evolution in domestic dogs and cats, but less is known about their role in related carnivores. in particular, genome-wide assessment of cansine evolution has yet to be completed across the feliformia (cat-like) suborder of car ... | 2014 | 24947429 |
| intralesional vincristine use for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in a puma (puma concolor). | a 14-yr-old male puma (puma concolor) was presented to the veterinary staff of the national zoo in malaysia for an auricular mass. squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed by histologic examination of a biopsy. systemic administration of chemotherapy using vincristine (0.5 mg/m2 i.v. q. 7 days for six treatments) and prednisolone (2 mg/kg i.m. q. 72 hr x 7 days) caused side effects of vomiting, weight loss, and alopecia and did not improve the size or appearance of the tumor. intralesional vincrist ... | 2013 | 24450069 |
| models of regional habitat quality and connectivity for pumas (puma concolor) in the southwestern united states. | the impact of landscape changes on the quality and connectivity of habitats for multiple wildlife species is of global conservation concern. in the southwestern united states, pumas (puma concolor) are a well distributed and wide-ranging large carnivore that are sensitive to loss of habitat and to the disruption of pathways that connect their populations. we used an expert-based approach to define and derive variables hypothesized to influence the quality, location, and permeability of habitat f ... | 2013 | 24367495 |
| mitochondrial dna sequence variation and phylogeography of neotropic pumas (puma concolor). | pumas occupy the largest latitudinal range of any new world terrestrial mammal. human population growth and associated habitat reduction has reduced their north american range by nearly two-thirds, but the impact of human expansion in central and south america on puma populations is not clear. we examined mitochondrial dna diversity of pumas across the majority of their range, with a focus on central and south america. four mitochondrial gene regions (1140 base pairs) revealed 16 unique haplotyp ... | 2014 | 23789770 |
| scale dependent behavioral responses to human development by a large predator, the puma. | the spatial scale at which organisms respond to human activity can affect both ecological function and conservation planning. yet little is known regarding the spatial scale at which distinct behaviors related to reproduction and survival are impacted by human interference. here we provide a novel approach to estimating the spatial scale at which a top predator, the puma (puma concolor), responds to human development when it is moving, feeding, communicating, and denning. we find that reproducti ... | 2013 | 23613732 |
| medium-grade astrocytoma in a cougar (puma concolor). | a 17-year-old, male castrated cougar (puma concolor) was presented minimally responsive and severely depressed, with bilateral mydriasis and absent pupillary light response. on gross examination of the brain, there was a tan-to-gray, invasive mass with a central cavitation on the ventral aspect in the left cerebral hemisphere, rostral to the caudate nucleus. on histopathologic examination, the mass was composed of sheets of medium-sized, round-to-polygonal cells that were multifocally separated ... | 2012 | 23272372 |
| on the available names for the northern and eastern south american subspecies of puma concolor (linnaeus, 1771) (mammalia: felidae) and their type localities. | | 2013 | 26213758 |
| a cat's tale: the impact of genetic restoration on florida panther population dynamics and persistence. | 1. genetic restoration has been suggested as a management tool for mitigating detrimental effects of inbreeding depression in small, inbred populations, but the demographic mechanisms underlying population-level responses to genetic restoration remain poorly understood. 2. we studied the dynamics and persistence of the endangered florida panther puma concolor coryi population and evaluated the potential influence of genetic restoration on population growth and persistence parameters. as part of ... | 2013 | 23252671 |
| nematode-associated intramural alimentary nodules in pumas are histologically similar to gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia of domestic cats. | intramural alimentary nodules in the gastric pylorus and proximal duodenum are a common finding in free-ranging pumas (puma concolor) in north america, and are often associated with the presence of an indwelling nematode (most commonly cylicospirura spp.). this study compares the histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical appearance of three proximal gastrointestinal nodules in pumas with four cases of eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia in domestic cats. histologically, the pattern of ... | 2013 | 22925264 |
| acute lead toxicosis via ingestion of spent ammunition in a free-ranging cougar (puma concolor). | lead toxicity has long been documented and acknowledged as a significant health issue of water birds and avian scavengers. however, few instances of toxic effects to higher mammalian carnivores have been documented. here we present an acute case of lead toxicity in a free-ranging cougar (puma concolor) in oregon. | 2012 | 22247395 |
| [food habits of puma concolor (carnivora: felidae) in the parque nacional natural puracé, colombia]. | neotropical puma (puma concolor) diet is scarcely known, in particular that of mountain dwelling individuals from northern south america. this is the first study on pumas from the paramo and the first puma diet analysis for colombia. the puma diet was studied from 2007 to 2009 in the puracé national park in the south colombian andes. paramos are unique neotropical high altitude ecosystems which store and regulate water, and are currently threatened by agricultural expansion and climate change. s ... | 2011 | 22017133 |
| does genetic introgression improve female reproductive performance? a test on the endangered florida panther. | genetic introgression has been suggested as a management tool for mitigating detrimental effects of inbreeding depression, but the role of introgression in species conservation has been controversial, partly because population-level impacts of genetic introgressions are not well understood. concerns about potential inbreeding depression in the endangered florida panther (puma concolor coryi) led to the release of eight female texas pumas (p. c. stanleyana) into the florida panther population in ... | 2012 | 21805300 |
| intentional genetic introgression influences survival of adults and subadults in a small, inbred felid population. | 1. inbreeding and low genetic diversity can cause reductions in individual fitness and increase extinction risk in animal populations. intentional introgression, achieved by releasing genetically diverse individuals into inbred populations, has been used as a conservation tool to improve demographic performance in endangered populations. 2. by the 1980s, florida panthers (puma concolor coryi) had been reduced to a small, inbred population that appeared to be on the brink of extinction. in 1995, ... | 2011 | 21338353 |
| genetic introgression and the survival of florida panther kittens. | estimates of survival for the young of a species are critical for population models. these models can often be improved by determining the effects of management actions and population abundance on this demographic parameter. we used multiple sources of data collected during 1982-2008 and a live recapture-dead recovery modeling framework to estimate and model survival of florida panther (puma concolor coryi) kittens (age 0 - 1 year). overall, annual survival of florida panther kittens was 0.323 ± ... | 2010 | 21113436 |
| genetic restoration of the florida panther. | the rediscovery of remnant florida panthers (puma concolor coryi) in southern florida swamplands prompted a program to protect and stabilize the population. in 1995, conservation managers translocated eight female pumas (p. c. stanleyana) from texas to increase depleted genetic diversity, improve population numbers, and reverse indications of inbreeding depression. we have assessed the demographic, population-genetic, and biomedical consequences of this restoration experiment and show that panth ... | 2010 | 20929847 |
| hematology and serum chemistry values for free-ranging florida panther neonates with a comparison to adult panther values. | hematologic and serum chemistry values were determined for 25 free-ranging florida panther (puma concolor couguar) neonates from southern florida sampled from january 2001 to april 2007. the kittens were < or = 25 days old, belonging to 12 litters, from 11 different dams. forty-one blood samples also were collected from 32 free-ranging adult panthers (3-10 yr-old) from southern florida from november 2000 to february 2007. male kittens had higher hemoglobin (hb), hematocrit (hct), and red blood c ... | 2009 | 19617501 |
| esophageal stricture in a cougar (puma concolor). | a 7-mo-old female cougar (puma concolor) was presented with a 2-wk history of anorexia and a 1-wk history of regurgitation. barium contrast esophagogram and gastroesophagoscopy revealed the presence of a segmental intraluminal esophageal stricture in the middle third of the esophagus. the stricture was potentially secondary to a previous anesthetic episode. three endoscopic balloon dilations allowed increasing the luminal diameter to a size that enabled the cougar to eat food softened with water ... | 2009 | 19569481 |
| diagnosis and treatment of presumptive postobstructive pulmonary edema in a florida panther (puma concolor coryi). | a free-ranging, adult male florida panther (puma concolor coryi) was immobilized and evaluated for hematuria following routine capture. prior to anesthetic recovery, the panther was fitted with a telemetry collar. after an initially quiet recovery, the panther began thrashing in the transport cage, and was again immobilized. pink foam was evident from the nostrils, and crackles were ausculted over the chest, indicating pulmonary edema. postobstructive pulmonary edema was diagnosed based on histo ... | 2007 | 17679517 |
| cycle and duration of the seminiferous epithelium in puma (puma concolor). | puma or sussuarana (puma concolor) is the second largest feline in the american continent and has an ample latitudinal distribution in very diverse habitats. in relation to its conservation status, the puma is considered an extinction-threatened species. the study of the testis morphology and the spermatogenic process in a species is fundamental for establishing the physiologic patterns that will make possible the selection of the protocols for assisted reproduction. a number of peculiarities as ... | 2006 | 15923093 |
| habitat barriers limit gene flow and illuminate historical events in a wide-ranging carnivore, the american puma. | we examined the effects of habitat discontinuities on gene flow among puma (puma concolor) populations across the southwestern usa. using 16 microsatellite loci, we genotyped 540 pumas sampled throughout the states of utah, colorado, arizona, and new mexico, where a high degree of habitat heterogeneity provides for a wide range of connective habitat configurations between subpopulations. we investigated genetic structuring using complementary individual- and population-based analyses, the latter ... | 2005 | 15910319 |
| historical and other patterns of monomethyl and inorganic mercury in the florida panther (puma concolor coryi). | since the late 1980s, elevated levels of mercury have been reported in the tissues of the florida panther (puma concolor coryi) from the florida everglades. the extent, degree, and length of time of mercury contamination in the florida panther are unknown. the objective of this study was to determine the historical and other patterns of monomethyl and inorganic mercury in the florida panther by analysis of mercury in panther hair from museum collections. in addition, this study evaluated the eff ... | 2005 | 15657808 |
| cryptorchidism in florida panthers: prevalence, features, and influence of genetic restoration. | the overall prevalence of cryptorchidism in florida panthers (puma concolor coryi) from 1972-2001 was 49% (24/49), with a significant increase over time. the earliest age at which descent of both testicles was known to occur was 2 mo and the latest was 10-13 mo. delayed testicular descent was documented in 23% (8/35) of juveniles examined. most retained testicles were in the inguinal canal. there was no apparent difference in reproductive success between cryptorchid and normal panthers, although ... | 2002 | 12528434 |
| causes of mortality in the florida panther (felis concolor coryi). | panthers necropsied at the university of florida ranged between 2 weeks and 14 years of age; there were 38 males and 17 females in the cohort. main categories of causes of death included trauma inflicted from either vehicular collisions (43%) or territorial fights (16%). specific endogenous diseases involved the respiratory system in 13%, the urinary system in 4%, and the central nervous system in 2%. ostium secundum atrial septal defects (asd) were diagnosed in 11% of the panthers necropsied. s ... | 2002 | 12381616 |
| odontoclastic resorptive lesion of a mandibular right first molar in a cougar. | a two-year old neuteral/male cougar (felis concolor) was presented because of abnormal eating habits and an irregularity of the mandibular right first molar that was noted by the caretaker. oral examination and dental radiographs showed a lesion consistent with odontoclastic resorption of the mandibular right first molar, and a crown fracture and dilacerated root of the maxillary right first incisor. exodontic therapy was performed on both teeth. the caretaker reported no problems associated wit ... | 2000 | 11968918 |
| retrospective study of proliferative papillary vulvitis in florida panthers. | proliferative, papillary vulvitis was identified in 16 of 34 (47%) free-ranging and captive female florida panthers (puma concolor coryi) monitored over a period from 1983-98. gross lesions were characterized by extensive papilliferous proliferation in the mucosa of the vestibulum vaginae. within lesions, the mean length and width of vestibular papillae were 1.07 +/- 0.39 mm (cv = 36%) and 0.55 +/- 0.11 mm (cv = 20%) respectively. histologically, three to 12 layers of non-cornified stratified sq ... | 2002 | 11838202 |
| patterns of size homoplasy at 10 microsatellite loci in pumas (puma concolor). | | 2001 | 11371606 |
| dissecting thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in a free-ranging florida panther (felis concolor coryi). | a 12-yr-old female free-ranging florida panther (felis concolor coryi) was found dead in good flesh. the panther had a ruptured thoracoabdominal aneurysm and 0.5 l of unclotted blood in its thorax. intimal plaques 6.0 x 3.0 x 3.0 cm and 4.0 x 3.0 x 1.0 cm were present in the thoracic and abdominal aorta extending below the bifurcation of the renal arteries. histologic examination revealed necrohemorrhagic aortitis with a mixed inflammatory infiltrate of lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils. ... | 2000 | 10982134 |
| atrial septal defects in florida panthers. | ostium secundum atrial septal defects (asds) were observed in six (3 m, 3 f) of 33 (20 m, 13 f) (18%) florida panthers (puma concolor coryi) necropsied by veterinary pathologists between 1985 and 1998. a seventh asd was found in a female panther necropsied in the field and is included in the pathological description but not the prevalence of asds in florida panthers. one panther (fp205) with severe asd also had tricuspid valve dysplasia (tvd). atrial septal defects and/or tvd are believed to hav ... | 1999 | 10479086 |
| vitamin a concentrations in serum and liver from florida panthers. | many of the anomalies and clinical signs afflicting the florida panther (felis concolor coryi) are suggestive of vitamin a deficiency. our objectives in this study were to determine if a vitamin a deficiency exists in the free-ranging panther population and to determine if there are differences in vitamin a levels among various subgroups of free-ranging panthers. retinol concentrations were used as an index to vitamin a concentrations and were determined in serum and liver from free-ranging (ser ... | 1999 | 10231743 |
| hematologic and serum biochemical reference intervals for florida panthers. | ninety-four blood samples were collected from 48 (29 males and 19 females) free-ranging florida panthers (felis concolor coryi) captured in southern florida (usa) from 1983 to 1994 for routine hematological and serum biochemical analysis. florida panthers in the northern portion of their range had significantly higher red blood cell (mean +/- sd = 7.923 x 10(6) +/- 0.854 x 10(6)/microliter), hemoglobin (12.53 +/- 1.66 g/dl), and packed cell volume (36.97 +/- 4.27%) values compared to those of pa ... | 1997 | 9391962 |
| reproductive impairment in the florida panther: nature or nurture? | many of the remaining members of the endangered florida panther (felis concolor coryi) population suffer from one or more of a variety of physiological, reproductive, endocrine, and immune system defects including congenital heart defects, abnormal sperm, low sperm density, cryptorchidism, thyroid dysfunction, and possible immunosuppression. mercury contamination, determined to be the cause of death of a female panther in 1989, was presented as the likely cause of thyroid dysfunction. as genetic ... | 1995 | 7556029 |
| gastric adenocarcinoma in a cougar (felis concolor). | diffusely invasive tumors occurred in the stomach of a 9-year-old female cougar (felis concolor) from a zoo in japan. the tumors consisted of tubular adenocarcinoma cells, and had infiltrative growth to the submucosa and muscularis propria. tumor cells were positive for carcinoembryonic antigen (cea), lysozyme, epithelial membrane antigen (ema), gastrin, alpha-1-fetoprotein (afp), keratin, and b72.3. mucin-like materials occurred within cytoplasmic vacuoles. | 1994 | 7760501 |
| gentamicin toxicosis in a north american cougar. | this report documents nephrotoxicosis in a north american cougar (felis concolor) caused by gentamicin overdose and describes a method of calculating drug dosages by metabolic scaling for species in which pharmacokinetic studies have not been performed. determining drug dosages by metabolic scaling can decrease the likelihood of administering inappropriate drug doses in exotic animals. | 1993 | 8226241 |
| epitheliogenesis imperfecta and gonadal malformation in pumas (felis concolor). | | 1983 | 6829143 |
| gastrointestinal helminths of the cougar, felis concolor l., in northeastern oregon. | | 1983 | 6682458 |