Loss of genetic diversity among ocelots in the United States during the 20th century linked to human induced population reductions.

ABSTRACT: Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in the United States currently exhibit low levels of genetic diversity. One hypothesis for this observation is that habitat fragmentation, resulting from human induced changes in the landscape during the 20(th) century, created island populations with highly reduced gene flow and increased genetic drift and inbreeding. In an effort to investigate this, we used a portion of the mitochondrial control region and 11 autosomal microsatellite loci to examine historical levels of genetic diversity and infer temporal changes in ocelot populations between 1853 and 2005. Levels of genetic diversity were higher in historical ocelot populations than in extant populations from Texas. The earliest documented loss of mitochondrial haplotype diversity occurred at Laguna Atasco

SUBMITTER: Janecka JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3935880 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature