 However, rapid development in the region has caused settled areas to expand into puma territory, resulting in more frequent human–puma encounters, reducing habitat connectivity, and negatively affecting the sustainability of the puma population.Moreover, because pumas are the top predator in the local ecosystem, a decline in the health of the puma population would affect the health of many other species and that of the ecosystem as a whole.The study is designed to reveal basic facts about the Bay Area's puma population, such as range, density, movement, feeding patterns, and the effects of roads and other human development on the pumas.