The Florida Panthers are recovering from the crisis of extinction thanks to genetic boost from the Panthers Group in Texas.
These Florida Panthers (Puma concolor coryi) are subspecies of mountain lions (also known as Puma or cougars), which account for less than 5% of their original territory due to hunting and habitat loss.
In the 1990s, the Florida Panthers remained below 30, and inbreeding threatened survival. So, in order to enhance the genetic diversity of the population, scientists brought eight female Panthers from Texas to Florida in 1995. Thirty years later, inbreeding declined, and the Florida Panther population rose to about 200. pnas.
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Following the introduction, the Florida Panthers managed to bred five of the eight introduced cats, and over time their offspring showed fewer inbreeding signs, including twisted tails and reproductive problems.
However, there was a risk that dispersing two populations would replace genetic mutations unique to the Florida Panthers. Some of these variations could be adaptations that will help the Florida Panthers survive in the environment.
“One of the major concerns about bringing in individuals from Texas was the possibility of a complete replacement of local genetic mutations in Florida,” said Diana Aguilar-Gómez, co-author of UCLA conservation genomeist Diana Aguilar-Gómez in a statement. “If you’re trying to maintain a variant endemic to Florida, that’s going to be a problem.”
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To study the effects of Texas Puma genes on the current Florida Panther population, researchers mapped the genome of the current Florida Panthers, which have both Texas and Florida ancestors. We also mapped the genomes of five original Texas cats and four original Florida Panthers for comparison.
Scientists say the Texas Pumas genes did not attack Florida’s unique ancestors. Instead, they reduced the effects of harmful genetic variations brought about by inbreeding. “Our results show that Florida genetics is still very present,” Aguilar Gomez said.
All organisms inherit two copies of each gene, but only one is expressed. If only one of the two copies carries a harmful mutation, the organism usually represents the other copies. However, if an organism inherits two copies with a mutation, it becomes a harmful property.
Breeding in Texas cats increased heterozygosity. This inherited one mutated copy of one mutated gene and one non-mutated copy of the gene among cats. Harmful mutations are still common in the Florida Panthers, but are less likely to be expressed now.
However, the benefits of increased genetic diversity are likely to be temporary, the researchers said.
“Our simulations suggest that the benefits of translocation may not last forever,” Aguilar-Gómez said. “Right now, increasing heterozygosity hides harmful mutations, but if the population is smaller like the current estimates of the Panthers of around 200, inbreeding could begin to rise again.”
The Florida Panthers may need further intervention in the future to prevent inbreeding from becoming a problem again, the researchers said.
“This really highlights the need for continuous monitoring and management of the Florida Panther,” added Aguilar-Gómez. “In the future, another translocation may be needed, but that needs to be assessed carefully, and more genetic studies should be conducted before making that decision.”
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