Olympic Peninsula cougars still had higher levels of genetic diversity and lower levels of inbreeding when compared to cougars in the Santa Ana Mountains of California
This is very interesting considering the Santa Ana Mountains are in a more accessible spot than the Olympic Peninsula Mountains. I would’ve made a guess it would be the other way around.
while displaying a lower level of genetic diversity compared to other cougar populations in the State, did not appear to be a management concern.
I was wish there was more information on this, or maybe a study that could’ve been added to show the exact statistics. For example, showing us does more have more stamina than the other? what the different lung capacities are like between the two species? etc.
indicating moderate levels of gene flow across the area with the exception of the Olympic Peninsula and the Blue Mountains which form more distinct genetic groups
I believe that the reason for the exception is because the Olympic Peninsula and the Blue Mountains are in difficult spots for the cougars to migrate to where other potential cougars are. Therefore, there is not much of a change in gene flow.