Concept explainers
To review:
The major causes of mortality of pumas in the two-given populations.
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 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 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. Two populations of this species are separated by highways into two regions mentioned above. The cat species was radio-collared to observe their movement from 2001 to 2013.
Explanation of Solution
There are several causes of death of pumas in the two-given population. The main reason of death in Santa Ana mountains population is due to a vehicle collision. According to the data, 46% population died because of a vehicle collision. Another major reason is illegal hunting. 23% population death was recorded because of illegal hunting. This region is better developed than the peninsular range and has a high rate of human activity. A high traffic on the highway, which these animals use to cross over to other regions leads to accidents. The species must be poached for their skin and other body parts.
The main reason of death among pumas in peninsular range population was legal hunting. It accounted for 26% death of pumas. The other reasons for death were vehicle collision, which caused 19% death and some suspected disease, which caused 13% of death. This region has a vast agricultural patch, which serves as a corridor for the wild beast. Thus, their hunting must be legalized in order to prevent the destruction of the crops. A poorly developed region harbors a number of pathogens, which may have affected the animals in this region.
Thus, from the given data it can be concluded that the main reason of death of pumas in the given two populations was mainly due to vehicle collision on the highway and hunting.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 58 Solutions
LIFE:SCI.OF BIOLOGY (LOOSE)-W/ACCESS
- If the variation in flower-tube length in this population were due solely to environmental factors, what would be the expected change in flower-tube length over several generations? Why or why not?arrow_forwardHow is it possible for aphids to feed only on thecarbohydrate-rich but nutrient-poor sap of phloemvessels in plants? Why do symbionts that aretransmitted horizontally show less genome reduction, asopposed to the significant genome reduction observedin heritable symbionts?arrow_forwardWhat evidence can be used to what proves that the males in swamps might be more likely to be blue due to their genes and environment conditions? Explain reasoning.arrow_forward
- Please describe in detail the primary damage of the suborder Auchenorrhyncha to a named crop seedlingarrow_forwardWhat is the genetics/chromosome number of Podocarpus costalis? What is the phenology and reproductive biology of Podocarpus costalis?arrow_forwardWhat do you think would happen to the phenotypes of the peppered moth if the tree bark was significantly darkened again by disease or pollution?arrow_forward
- Doesn't the The F1 offspring being all LlDd means that the F1 centipedes have long legs and DARK colored bodies. Since D (dark) is dominant to to d (light)? Then if you drew a punnett swuare, wouldn't all the offspring being LlDd mean that none of the offspring have light bodies and short legs? So I don't understand the 25/4 fraction that you got for part a and where did the 1/16 come from?arrow_forwardWhy is marbling higher in temperate breeds of cattle compared to breeds found in the tropics? Cite your References.arrow_forwardWhat causes sexual dimorphism? Give some examples of sexually dimorphic species, and why you think that form of sexual dimorphism arose.arrow_forward
- Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage Learning