UCF researcher helps confirm genetic restoration success for Florida panthers

(Press-News.org) In 1995, scientists translocated eight Texas pumas into Florida in a genetic restoration effort to save the only viable puma population east of the Mississippi from extinction, the Florida panther.

The move raised concerns about harmful mutations and genetic swamping — or loss of unique traits. However, a recent study co-authored by UCF Assistant Professor of Biology and Genomics and Bioinformatics faculty cluster member Robert Fitak, found that since the introduction, genetic variation has significantly improved; unique traits have been retained; and harmful mutations, while still present, are largely masked by the restored genetic variation.

Findings from the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and led by UCLA researcher Diana Aguilar-Gómez with colleagues, suggest that this rescue model could guide future conservation efforts for other endangered species facing similar threats.

In the 1990s, fewer than 30 Florida panthers remained in the wild. Habitat loss, isolation and unregulated hunting drove the species to their record-low numbers. The steep decline led to inbreeding, causing developmental, reproductive and immunological impairments that spelled a devastating future for the species.

“If the panthers had continued inbreeding, the population would have been driven to extinction,” Fitak says. “The only way to recover them was to restore the genetic variation they had lost. ”

While the introduction helped the population rebound to between 120 to 230 individuals, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, researchers wanted to know if the species’ genetic health improved and if their genetic ancestry was being replaced.

“My colleagues sequenced the entire genome of 29 post-rescue Florida panthers and combined it with genomes generated from my group and others to create a larger genomic analysis,” Fitak says.

The study found mixed Florida-Texas ancestry, with 24% to 61% Texas ancestry, indicating increased genetic variation measured by heterozygosity — a marker of how much genetic variation individuals carry.

It also found no evidence of genetic swamping — when genes from one population, such as Texas pumas, overwhelm and dilute the genetic makeup of another, such as Florida panthers. The panthers with mixed ancestry retained on average 59% to 80% Florida ancestry. Over time, Florida ancestry even increased, alleviating fears that the Texas genes would dominate the population’s unique traits.

“One of the risks of introducing Texas pumas was the loss of traits that make Florida panthers unique, but that was not the case,” Fitak says. “Their DNA was still intact and had spread to the individuals we studied. Post-rescue generations were genetically, physiologically and morphologically the same as pre-rescue Florida panthers.”

Moreover, post-rescue panthers carried fewer harmful mutations or deleterious variants, which were not removed but largely masked by the additional genetic variation from Texas pumas.

“Another fear was the possibility of introducing more harmful mutations that would worsen an already vulnerable population, but the opposite happened,” Fitak says. “Bringing in Texas pumas helped offset negative mutations and improved the population’s overall health.”

While the findings have been largely positive, researchers remain cautiously optimistic about the long-term results.

“It’s clear that without the genetic rescue 30 years ago, we probably wouldn’t have a Florida panther today,” Fitak says. “That’s why ongoing monitoring is critical. If their numbers drop and inbreeding rises again, we need to act quickly before facing the same problem.”

He adds that the study underscores the importance of building on research data collected over time.

“The project was a major collaboration led by several scientists and relied heavily on data gathered by multiple groups in previous studies,” Fitak says. “Making such data publicly available is crucial for advancing future research.”

On the broader significance, he says that understanding what worked for Florida panthers could help improve outcomes for other species facing similar declines.

“This kind of intervention will likely become more common as more iconic megafauna in the country and around the world decline,” Fitak says. “Studying its effects in Florida panthers helps us refine the approach and make it more effective for future conservation efforts.”

Aside from the genetic challenges, the Florida panther is also facing another major threat: habitat loss and degradation.

“Continued development in Florida is eating away at the spaces panthers need for survival.” Fitak says. “Development also indirectly impacts water quality and displaces the prey they rely on for food.”

While genetic restoration may have given Florida panthers a second chance, Fitak stresses that monitoring and habitat protection remain critical for their survival. Beyond safeguarding a single species, the effort has ripple effects across an entire ecosystem and holds significance for Floridians who view the panther as the state’s icon.

“Florida panthers are a symbol of the state’s wild heritage,” Fitak says. “Protecting this top predator isn’t just about saving one animal — it’s about preserving the health of an entire ecosystem for future generations.”

Florida panther samples were collected using funding from the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund.

Researcher Credentials:
Fitak is an assistant professor in UCF’s Department of Biology in the College of Sciences. He received his doctorate in genetics from the University of Arizona and his bachelor’s in molecular genetics from The Ohio State University. Before joining UCF in 2019, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Population Genetics in Vienna, Austria, and at Duke University. He is a member of UCF’s Genomics and Bioinformatics research cluster.

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