Development of models predicting large-scale connectivity and sustainability of Canada lynx populations

加拿大山猫是北美北部森林中重要的捕食者，但栖息地的丧失显然是导致最近种群数量下降和范围缩小的主要因素。山猫种群的变化也可能因为核心区域的数量波动受到抑制，或者区域外围的竞争(与郊狼和山猫)和杂交(与山猫)而加剧。因此，需要有效的工具来预测山猫的数量，以确保该物种在整个范围内的长期生存能力。我们将与皮毛拍卖行合作，收集收获的山猫样本，以评估种群遗传结构，并确定连接核心种群和外围种群的扩散走廊。来自收获的山猫的遗传样本将表征杂交的范围和分布，并导致预测南方山猫遗传完整性丧失的空间显式模型。与省和州政府合作，我们将计算

Canada lynx are important predators in the boreal forests of North America, but loss of habitat apparently is the primary factor contributing to recent population decline and range constriction. Changes in lynx populations also may be compounded by dampened numerical fluctuations in the core range, or competition (with coyotes and bobcats) and hybridization (with bobcats) in the range periphery. It follows that effective tools for predicting lynx numbers are needed to ensure long-term rangewide viability of this species. In cooperation with fur auction houses, we will collect samples from harvested lynx to assess population genetic structuring and to identify dispersal corridors linking core to peripheral populations. Genetic samples from harvested bobcats will characterize the extent and distribution of hybridization, and lead to spatially-explicit models predicting loss of genetic integrity in southern lynx. In cooperation with provincial and state governments, we will calculate