Research overview: genetic isolation of pumas in urban landscapes

Pumas living near major cities, such as those in the Santa Monica and Santa Ana Mountains of California, are increasingly hemmed in by freeways and development, fragmenting their populations and restricting gene flow. This overview surveys research using genetic monitoring and GPS tracking to document declining heterozygosity, evidence of inbreeding, and the risk of local extinction in these isolated groups. It discusses the appearance of inbreeding signs such as kinked tails, the role of rare migrant males in rescuing diversity, and proposed wildlife crossings designed to restore connectivity. The case illustrates how landscape genetics informs conservation in human-dominated terrain.