A single migrant enhances the genetic diversity of an inbred puma population

Migration is essential for maintaining genetic diversity among populations, and pumas (Puma concolor) provide an excellent model for studying the genetic impacts of migrants on populations isolated by increasing human development. In densely populated southern California, USA, puma populations on the east and west side of interstate highway 15 (I-15) have become fragmented into a small inbred population on the west side (Santa Ana Mountains) and a relatively larger, more diverse population on the east side (Eastern Peninsular Range). From 146 sampled pumas, genetic analyses indicate seven pumas crossed I-15 over the last 15 years, including four males from west to east, and three males from east to west. However, only a single migrant (named M86) was detected to have produced offspring and contribute to gene flow across the I-15 barrier. Prior to the M86 migration, the Santa Ana population exhibited inbreeding and had significantly lower genetic diversity than the Eastern Peninsular Ran...迁徙对于维持种群间的遗传多样性至关重要，而美洲狮（Puma concolor）是研究迁徙者对因人类开发加剧而隔离的种群产生遗传影响的极佳模型。在美国人口稠密的南加州地区，15号州际公路（Interstate 15, I-15）东西两侧的美洲狮种群已被分割为两部分：西侧为圣安娜山脉（Santa Ana Mountains）的小型近交种群，东侧则是相对更大、遗传多样性更丰富的东半岛山脉（Eastern Peninsular Range）种群。研究人员对146只采样美洲狮经遗传分析表明，过去15年间共有7只美洲狮跨越了I-15屏障，其中4只为从西向东迁徙的雄性个体，3只为从东向西迁徙的雄性个体。然而，仅有一只名为M86的迁徙个体成功繁育后代，并对跨越I-15屏障的基因流做出了贡献。在M86迁徙之前，圣安娜种群已存在近交现象，且其遗传多样性显著低于东半岛山脉种群……