Bobcats are widely distributed throughout North America and, as habitat generalists, are well-adapted to life in urban areas, including Tucson. However, impacts of urbanization on bobcat social structure are not well understood, and urbanization has the potential to alter population genetic structure and viability through subdividing populations.

In partnership with the Bobcats in Tucson Research Project ©, we performed double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) to generate SNP data from bobcats living at the Tucson Mountain wildland urban interface. Our objectives were to evaluate kinship, investigate dispersal, and assess genetic diversity of the population. We combined our genomic data with BIT’s GPS data from radio collared bobcats to understand how kinship impacts home range selection. Stay tuned for results!

We are also currently investigating DNA and RNA virome composition using scat and buccal swab samples from BIT. Using a hybrid-capture approach, we were able to obtain sequence data for a wide variety of viruses potentially relevant to the health of bobcats and other carnivores. It is critical to understand the viral diversity present in urban wildlife such as bobcats because the health of wildlife, domestic animals, and humans is connected, and interactions in urban settings can facilitate inter-species viral transmission.