2023-06-282023-06-282016ZANIN, Marina et al. Gene flow and genetic structure of the puma and jaguar in Mexico. European Journal of Wildlife Research, Berlim, v. 62, p. 461-469, 2016. DOI; 10.1007/s10344-016-1019-8. Disponível em: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10344-016-1019-8. Acesso em: 5 jun. 2023.1612-4642e- 1439-0574https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10344-016-1019-8Gene flow among populations and subpopulations homogenizes allele frequencies. This mechanism is strongly influenced by species dispersal ability, frequently correlating genetic variation with distance among individuals, which is also known as an isolation-by-distance pattern. Species with high dispersal abilities are expected to show a limited isolation-by-distance pattern compared to those with reduced dispersal. Here, we use non-invasive genetic sampling of faeces to evaluate how isolation-by-distance is differentially structured in jaguar and puma populations in Mexico. We have optimized and validated a reliable and standardized non-invasive genetic sampling protocol to monitor pumas based on 12 microsatellite markers, as well as applied a previously published and consistent protocol for jaguars. We found that jaguars and pumas were not uniform and panmictic populations. Spatial trends in allele frequencies for both species generated clinal patterns. However, pumas showed a stronger isolation-by-distance pattern than jaguars, which was expected since pumas seem to have a lower dispersal ability than jaguars. The genetic structures of both species differed at the level of subpopulations. These results reinforce the differences in intensity of isolation-by-distance between two generalist species with high dispersal abilityengAcesso RestritoFaecesSpatial principal component analysisGenetic clustersMicrosatellitemarkersArtigo10.1007/s10344-016-1019-8