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- Title
Genetic Analysis of Scats Reveals Minimum Number and Sex of Recently Documented Mountain Lions.
- Authors
Naidu, Ashwin; Smythe, Lindsay A.; Thompson, Ron W.; Culver, Melanie
- Abstract
Recent records of mountain lions and concurrent declines in desert bighorn sheep 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.
- Subjects
ARIZONA; PUMAS; SCATOPHAGIDAE (Fish); GENETIC research; WILDLIFE research; KOFA National Wildlife Refuge (Ariz.)
- Publication
Journal of Fish & Wildlife Management, 2011, Vol 2, Issue 1, p106
- ISSN
1944-687X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3996/042010-JFWM-008