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Onorato, D.
Genetic introgression in the Florida panther population
2008 Conference Proceeding
The worldwide decline in wild felid populations is often associated with varied anthropogenic factors that perpetually lead to endangerment or extinction. The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) provides a perfect example of the plight faced by many populations of wild felids in the 21st century. This population of puma was severely reduced during the 19th and 20th centuries due to a variety of reasons, most notably the loss of habitat and conflicts with an expanding human population in the southeastern United States. This decline led to the listing of the Florida panther as endangered by the Federal Government in 1967, with additional protection afforded under the Endangered Species Act in 1973. By the early 1980s, the panther population was restricted to the southern tip of peninsular Florida and encompassed < 20 individuals. To obtain a more complete understanding of the general biology of the panther, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission initiated research on this population in 1981.
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