LINCOLN, Neb. — New research published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment reveals that human infrastructure, such as roads and development, is disrupting the movement and genetic connectivity of young mountain lions in California.
A team of researchers tracked 87 subadult mountain lions, aged one to three years, using GPS collars to study their dispersal patterns as they seek breeding territories. “Long-distance dispersal by subadults is the key to maintaining connectivity between different mountain lion populations,” said Kyle Dougherty, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
The study found that young mountain lions avoid developed areas and busy roads, which are crucial for maintaining genetic diversity and preventing population decline. Isolated populations in southern California and the central coast show lower genetic diversity due to these barriers.
John Benson, co-author and associate professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, emphasized the importance of connectivity, stating, “Our work suggests that large roads and extensive development limit the ability of large, healthy populations to maintain smaller, isolated populations.”…