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Genetic Diversity in Endemic Galápagos Birds: Patterns and Implications

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Disease Ecology

Abstract

Due to their smaller sizes and isolation, island populations generally have reduced genetic variability, which can have negative fitness consequences. The Galápagos Islands have played a unique and important role in our understanding of evolution, and the population genetics of bird species native to the islands is relatively well studied. Native Galápagos bird species exhibit a range of genetic patterns at neutral loci. For example, hawk and mockingbird population genetic variability is closely correlated with island size, demonstrating the effect of genetic drift, whereas gene flow has mitigated the effect of drift in dove and finch populations, resulting in higher genetic variability. Similarly, Galápagos seabirds exhibit a range of patterns, with some having greatly reduced variation compared to relatives outside of Galápagos (e.g., magnificent frigatebirds, penguins) and others having relatively high genetic variability (e.g., great frigatebirds). Published studies of major histocompatibility variability in hawks and penguins show a pattern of reduced variability at functional loci for Galápagos species compared to mainland congeners. Research has also demonstrated a relationship between genetic variability and fitness in some Galápagos species. Galápagos hawks have weaker innate immune function and higher louse loads than their more heterozygous mainland congener, and medium ground finches with higher heterozygosity are more likely to survive and breed. In contrast, no relationship between inbreeding and innate immune function or ectoparasite load was detected for mockingbirds. Further study of the population genetic dynamics of these species will continue to better inform management practices in the face of evolving threats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Jennifer L. Bollmer

  2. Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Benjamin D. Nims

Authors
  1. Jennifer L. Bollmer
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  2. Benjamin D. Nims
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Correspondence to Jennifer L. Bollmer .

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Missouri – St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

    Patricia G. Parker

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Bollmer, J.L., Nims, B.D. (2018). Genetic Diversity in Endemic Galápagos Birds: Patterns and Implications. In: Parker, P. (eds) Disease Ecology. Social and Ecological Interactions in the Galapagos Islands. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65909-1_4

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