Chapter 58, Problem 4Q

Summary Introduction

To review:

Whether the conservation strategies for puma population be focused on Santa Ana mountains, peninsular range or both the regions.

Given:

The data shows the reasons for the mortality in a species of puma (Puma concolor) in two regions of South California (Table 1).

Table 1: The reasons for the mortality in a species of puma (Puma concolor)

Mortality percentage (number of individuals)
Reason of mortality	Santa Ana mountains	Peninsular range	Total
Vehicle collision	46 (6)	19 (4)	28 (10)
Killed for public safety	0 (0)	4 (1)	3 (1)
Illegal hunting (poaching)	23 (3)	4 (1)	11 (4)
Legal hunting	0 (0)	26 (6)	17 (6)
Suspected disease	8 (1)	13 (3)	11 (4)
Confirmed disease	8 (1)	9 (2)	5 (2)
Fire	8 (1)	4 (1)	5 (2)
Intraspecies killing	0 (0)	4 (1)	3 (1)
Capture-related	0 (0)	4 (1)	3 (1)
Unknown causes	15 (2)	13 (3)	14 (5)
Total	13	23	36

Introduction:

A study was conducted to determine the population of Puma in Santa Ana mountains and Peninsular range of South California. It is a threatened species, which faces danger from habitat destruction and fragmentation and from human conflicts. These factors have led to the isolation of this species and decline in their number, which has ultimately contracted their gene pool size.

Two populations of this species are separated by highways into two regions mentioned above. Santa Ana mountains are better developed in comparison to the Peninsular range, which is basically an agricultural area. The cat species was radio-collared to observe their movement from 2001 to 2013.