Figure 3.
Results from individual-based population model for mountain lions projected 50 years showing predictions for population size and genetic diversity. Darker and lighter colours in the plots reflect highest and lowest probability of predicted values, respectively. (a) Population projections showing generally stable population size and growth, regardless of immigration and a 3–22% probability of extinction. Persistent projections shown in blue, projections going extinct shown in red. (b) Predicted values of observed heterozygosity (Ho) declined rapidly with no or low (one every 13 years) immigration, whereas Ho was largely maintained with moderate increases in immigration (one every 2–4 years). Red bands indicate the level of Ho documented in Florida panthers experiencing inbreeding depression (from Johnson et al. [14]), calculated as proportional loss of heterozygosity relative to outbred pumas (additional details in Discussion).