Data from: Genetic source-sink dynamics among naturally structured and anthropogenically fragmented puma populations

Fragmentation of wildlife populations is increasing on a global scale and
understanding current population genetic structure, genetic diversity, and
genetic connectivity is key to informing wildlife management and
conservation. We genotyped 992 pumas (Puma concolor) at 42 previously
developed microsatellite loci and identified 10 genetic populations
throughout the states of California and Nevada, USA. Although some genetic
populations had large effective population sizes, others were small and
inbred. Genetic diversity was extremely variable (heterozygosity, uHe =
0.33–0.53), with some populations nearly as low as an endangered
subspecies, the Florida Panther (P. c. coryi, uHe = 0.24). Specifically,
pumas in the Sierra Nevada were genetically diverse and formed the largest
genetic source population in the region. In contrast, coastal and southern
populations surrounded by urbanization had low genetic diversity,
fragmented gene flow, and tended to be genetic sinks. The strong
population genetic structuring of pumas across California (FST =
0.05–0.39) is vastly different than other genetic studies in
less-urbanized states, including our analysis in Nevada, where pumas had
few barriers to gene flow and weak population differentiation. Our results
have far-reaching conservation and management implications for pumas and
indicate large-scale fragmentation in one of North America’s most
biodiverse and rapidly-urbanizing regions.