https://phys.org/news/2025-03-years-efforts-yellowstone-bison-population.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * Medical Xpress Medicine * Tech Xplore Technology [INS::INS] * * share this! * 120 * Tweet * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Biology 3. Plants & Animals 1. Home 2. Biology 3. Ecology * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- March 5, 2025 The GIST Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread After 120 years of conservation efforts, Yellowstone bison are a single breeding population, researchers discover by Courtney Price, Texas A&M University Yellowstone bison Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have discovered that bison in Yellowstone National Park--the only group of American bison that has continually existed as wildlife in the United States--now consist of a single large, interbreeding population derived from multiple historic bison herds. Population genetic studies completed just 20 years ago found that Yellowstone bison populations retained much of their historic breeding patterns and were, in fact, two unique herds living within the national park. However, in a study published in the Journal of Heredity, VMBS researchers found a change in breeding behavior in the park and now recommend that Yellowstone bison should be managed as one large interbreeding herd. "This finding certainly has a direct impact on the long-term conservation and management of this iconic bison population," said Dr. James Derr, a professor in the VMBS' Department of Veterinary Pathobiology (VTPB). Bison like those in Yellowstone once suffered a population crisis that conservationists call the "population bottleneck" of the 19th century. By the early 1900s, American bison numbers had been reduced by 99.9% across North America and only 23 wild bison were known to have survived poaching in Yellowstone. "In one of the greatest wildlife conservation success stories of all time, a small number of domestic bison from western Montana and the Texas Panhandle were introduced in 1902 to existing animals in Yellowstone in the hopes that they would create a stable and thriving population in the world's first national park," Derr said. [INS::INS] Today, the Texas A&M researchers report that the Yellowstone bison population appears to be functioning as a single and genetically healthy population that fluctuates between 4,000 and 6,000 individuals. "There has long been a debate among conservationists about how to best manage genetic diversity in Yellowstone bison," said Dr. Sam Stroupe, a VTPB postdoctoral researcher. "To get a clearer picture, we examined samples from the two major summer breeding groups and two major winter ranges," he said. "These are where we would expect to see examples of genetic difference and overlap; however, Yellowstone bison today are clearly one interbreeding herd." With the completion of this study, management decisions can be based on accurate information about the breeding structure and overall genetic health of the population to ensure the long-term stability of this iconic bison herd. The researchers hope that this new information will prove useful to Yellowstone's bison conservation experts as they continue to manage and monitor this flagship population of the U.S. national mammal. More information: Sam Stroupe et al, Genetic reassessment of population subdivision in Yellowstone National Park bison, Journal of Heredity (2024). DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esae050 Journal information: Journal of Heredity Provided by Texas A&M University Citation: After 120 years of conservation efforts, Yellowstone bison are a single breeding population, researchers discover (2025, March 5) retrieved 5 March 2025 from https://phys.org/news/ 2025-03-years-efforts-yellowstone-bison-population.html This document is subject to copyright. 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This shift, identified through genetic studies, suggests that the bison should be managed as one large herd. The population, which fluctuates between 4,000 and 6,000 individuals, is considered genetically healthy. This finding impacts conservation strategies, ensuring the long-term stability of this iconic species. This summary was automatically generated using LLM. Full disclaimer Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). 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