Panther Florida (Puma concolor coryi)
Anthony Picconatto & William Reynolds
Overview of Presentation
I. General Information II. Historical and Current Threats III. Efforts For Conservation -Habitat Preservation and Reconstruction -Captive Breeding -Introduction of the Texas Cougar IV. Pros and Cons V. Summary
I. Florida Panther Facts
Puma concolor coryi (a subspecies of the cougar family) Weight: males 45 to 70 kg, females 30 to 45 kg. Height: vary from 60 to 70 cm Length: 1.8 to 2.3 meters Coloration: Tawny brown on the back with pale gray underneath Active Range: 75 to 250 square miles
Florida Panther Facts (continued)
Diet: white-tail deer, feral hog, raccoons, armadillo, small alligator, small rodents, and fowl. Breeding: Sexually mature at 2-3 years of age. Mate in October to March. Gestation 90-96 days. Litters of 1-4 kittens that are dependant up to 2 years. Kitten mortality is 50-70%
II. Historical and Current Threats
The major historical threat was hunting by humans.
Current Threats: -Habitat Loss and Degradation -Inbreeding Depression -Environmental Contaminants
Charles Barney Cory
Florida Panther Mortality
Habitat Loss and Degradation
Constant human population increase in southern Florida leads to development and habitat reduction.
Population increase in three southern Florida Counties 1950-2010
Sources: U.S. Bureau of the Census; Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Florida
Habitat Loss and Degradation
Floridas growing citrus industry also leads to habitat reduction. The greatest concentration of unprotected panther habitat is private land in Collier and Hendry County.
Acreage occupied by citrus farms 1985-1996
53% of the Florida panther's current range is on private land.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of the Census; Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Florida
Habitat Loss and Degradation
Former range of Florida panther ranged from Arkansas to South Carolina to Florida (Fergus 1991). Current range is 5000 sq. miles centered on Everglades National Park. Panthers also range north of the park into privately-held land subject to development. This land is some of the best natural habitat in Florida.
Inbreeding Depression
A loss of vigor amongst offspring occurring when closely related individuals mate, resulting from the expression of numbers of deleterious genes in a homozygous state and from a generally low level of heterozygosity. Inbreeding between Florida panthers has become so severe that most animals have one or more abnormal traits.
Inbreeding Depression
Physical indications of inbreeding depression include kinked-tails, a cowlick whirl of fur on the back, and in males, cryptorchism (where one testicle fails to descend).
Kinked tail is a deformation of tail vertebrae that causes a 90 kink at the tip of the tail.
Photo courtesy of Science Magazine
Inbreeding Depression
One of the possible negative effects of inbreeding is abnormal sperm. Florida panthers have more abnormal sperm than individuals from other cougar populations.
Normal
Abnormal
Abnormal
Inbreeding Depression
Additional factors linked to inbreeding depression -atrial septal defects -reduced fecundity -birth defects -slower growth rates -homogenous immune system that may leave the entire population vulnerable to a single pathogenic strain
Environmental Contaminants
Mercury contamination is linked to at least one panther death. Sources of mercury -mining and smelting -coal-fired utilities -solid-waste incinerators
Raccoons are thought to be the major source of mercury contamination in Florida panthers.
III. Conservation Efforts
Early estimates (1500s) of Florida panther population, based on carrying capacity of natural communities for white-tailed deer, places the total number of panthers at approximately 1,360 (Alvarez, 1993). Current populations estimates place the number of panthers at between 80 to 90 individuals. Conservation efforts involve these aspects: -Habitat Preservation and Reconstruction -Captive Breeding -Introduction of the Texas Cougar -Conservation groups
Habitat Reconstruction and Preservation
Wildlife preserves and refuges provide protected habitat for panthers. Everglades National Park - 1,508,508 acres Big Cypress National Preserve - 720,566 acres Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge - 23,379 acres
Total acreage of Florida: 37,478,400 acres
Habitat Reconstruction and Preservation
Highway underpasses essentially eliminated vehicles as a factor in panther mortality by allowing corridors safe for travel. Prior to their construction, vehicles were killing one to two panthers each year. 23 such underpasses were constructed along I-75 in 1986. Since 1987, no panther has been killed on this stretch of highway.
Schematic drawing of a panther underpass
Habitat Reconstruction and Preservation
Creation of corridors between habitats allows panthers to move freely over a wider range of terrain.
Large unforested areas are not conducive to panther movement between habitats. Areas such as citrus farms, residential areas, and major highways fall into this category.
The photo to the left shows a possible corridor for panther movement between habitats. Notice it allows panthers a forested passageway across open fields.
Captive Breeding
Captive breeding involves taking wild animals and breeding them in captivity. 1991 - After much debate with the Fund for Animals, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service begins captive breeding program by removing six kittens from the wild.
Florida panther in captivity.
Introduction of the Texas Cougar
1995 - Introduction of 8 female Texas cougars into south Florida in an attempt to increase the gene pool and numbers of Florida panther. Both the Texas cougar and Florida panther belong to same species but are different subspecies.
Texas cougar (Puma concolor stanleyana)
Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi)
Introduction of the Texas Cougar
Of the 12 kittens born to the Texas cougars in south Florida, 11 are thought to still be alive. All the kittens have appeared healthy and none have kinked tails or cowlicks (Land and Taylor 1998).
Female Florida panther with male and female kitten.
Florida Panther Conservation Groups
The Florida Panther Society Inc. National Wildlife Federation Florida Stewardship Foundation The Nature Conservancy Florida Wildlife Federation Feline Conservation Center and many more...
Florida panther with wildlife specialist.
Florida Panther License Plate
1993 - license plates designed to bring awareness to Florida Panther are made available Cumulative revenue generated: $31, 621,152 Funds benefit ALL wildlife in Florida
IV. Pros and Cons
PROS -conservation efforts directed at the Florida panther have benefited other species as well -highway underpasses -preservation of habitat -creation of jobs in conservation biology CONS -economic -cost of building of underpasses is great (36 underpasses came to more than 13 million) -loss of valuable acreage for farming and development
V. Summary
Habitat destruction and degradation is a major threat to the Florida panther Inbreeding depression due to limited population Most current threats to the Florida panther are due to human activity Conservation efforts include -highway underpass construction -reserves and refuges -increase of gene pool with Texas cougar -wildlife education and awareness It is important to preserve the habitat of the Florida panther at all costs; not only does it have its own intrinsic value, but protection of its habitat protects hundreds of other species.
References
Armentano, Tom. 1994. Management Activities at Everglades National Park. In Dennis Jordan, ed. Proceedings of the Florida Panther Conference. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Alvarez, Ken. 1993. Twilight of the Panther. Sarasota, Florida: Myakka Publishing Company. Dunbar, Michael R. 1994. Florida Panther Biomedical Investigation. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Fergus, Chuck. 1991. Florida Panther Verges on Extinction. Science. Vol.251. No. 4998: 1178-1180 Florida Panther Net. <http://www.panther.state.fl.us/index.html> Florida Panther Society Inc. <http://www.panthersociety.org/index.html> Kautz, Randy. 1994. Historical Trends within the Range of the Florida Panther. In Dennis Jordan, ed. Proceedings of the Florida Panther Conference. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Land, Darrell, and Sharon K. Taylor. 1998. Florida Panther Genetic Restoration and Management. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Turback, Gary. 1999. National Wildlife Federation. Oct-Nov.
Preserving the Florida Panther: A Goal for Conservation!!!
Questions
What are the two major threats to the Florida panther? -genetic bottleneck and inbreeding depression -habitat loss and degradation What is one method of increasing genetic diversity in the Florida panther? -introducing the Texas cougar What is one way to prevent the death of the Florida panther due to motor vehicles and is it successful? -highway underpasses and yes, very much so