Scott Markwith of FAU has found that solar energy facilities are disrupting the homes of the Puma concolor coryi species in South Florida. The panthers are currently restricted to just above 5% of their historic range, with males needing at least 200 square miles for survival.

 “Restoring dispersal corridors and gene flow throughout Peninsular Florida is critical to the Florida panther, its prey, and ancillary species that benefit from a connected Florida ecosystem. This, in turn, will benefit biodiversity and species resiliency at the landscape-scale,” said Markwith.

• Scott Markwith