Genetic diversity and population structure of pumas (Puma concolor) in southeastern Brazil: implications for conservation in a human-dominated landscape

Abstract

São Paulo is the most populous, developed and industrialized state of Brazil. Despite of intensive human activities, large habitat loss and fragmentation of the native vegetation cover, pumas (Puma concolor) still inhabit remnant habitat fragments in the northeastern area of the state. We investigated the occurrence of genetic structure and levels of genetic variability on pumas to aggregate basic information for conservation efforts to maintain long term viable populations of this top-predator in the region. By analyzing microsatellite loci variation, we corroborated the hypothesis of absence of genetic structure, and estimated high levels of genetic diversity (expected heterozygosity of 0.79 and mean of 10 alleles per locus). In spite of the increasing number of roadkilling and puma-human conflicts in the area, apparently pumas still maintain some level of gene flow between protected areas of the region. The observed excess of heterozygotes suggests a recent bottleneck event in this population, probably a consequence of the profound landscape transformation of the studied area during the last century; another possibility is this may be due to the observed deviation in the population sex ratio, which may be influencing the pumas' mating system. We propose that: (1) landscape management in the study area should be focused on increasing habitat connectivity, creating protected areas and structures to allow highway crossing of pumas; (2) educational actions should be undertaken to change community perception of large carnivores, and possibly the implementation of compensatory actions to ranchers.