Spatial genetic architecture of the critically-endangered Maui Parrotbill (Pseudonestor xanthophrys): management considerations for reintroduction strategies

Genealogical relationship inference to identify areas of intensive poaching of the Orange-fronted Parakeet (Eupsittula canicularis)

Background

The Orange-fronted Parakeet (Eupsittula canicularis) is the Mexican psittacine that is most captured for the illegal pet trade. However, as for most wildlife exploited by illegal trade, the genetic diversity that is extracted from species and areas of intensive poaching is unknown. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity of 80 E. canicularis parakeets confiscated from the illegal trade and estimated the level of extraction of genetic diversity by poaching using the mitochondrial DNA sequences of cytochrome b (Cytb). In addition, we analyzed the genealogical and haplotypic relationships of the poached parakeets and sampled wild populations in Mexico, as a strategy for identifying the places of origin of poached parakeets.

Results

Poached parakeets showed high haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.842) and low nucleotide diversity (Pi = 0.00182). Among 22 haplotypes identified, 18 were found exclusively in 37 individuals, while four were detected in the remaining 43 individuals and shared with the wild populations. A rarefaction and extrapolation curve revealed that 240 poached individuals can include up to 47 haplotypes and suggested that the actual haplotype richness of poached parakeets is higher than our analyses indicate. The geographic locations of the four haplotypes shared between poached and wild parakeets ranged from Michoacan to Sinaloa, Mexico. However, the rare haplotypes detected in poached parakeets were derived from a recent genetic expansion of the species that has occurred between the northwest of Michoacan and the coastal region of Colima, Jalisco and southern Nayarit, Mexico.

Conclusions

Poached parakeets showed high genetic diversity, suggesting high extraction of the genetic pool of the species in central Mexico. Rarefaction and extrapolation analyses suggest that the actual haplotype richness in poached parakeets is higher than reflected by our analyses. The poached parakeets belong mainly to a very diverse genetic group of the species, and their most likely origin is between northern Michoacan and southern Nayarit, Mexico. We found no evidence that poachers included individuals from Central American international trafficking with individuals from Mexico in the sample.

Extinction Risk and Conservation Options for Maui Parrotbill, an Endangered Hawaiian Honeycreeper

Extinction rates for island birds around the world have been historically high. For forest passerines, the Hawaiian archipelago has suffered some of the highest extinction rates and reintroduction is a conservation tool that can be used to prevent the extinction of some of the remaining endangered species. Population viability analyses can be used to assess risks to vulnerable populations and evaluate the relative benefits of conservation strategies. Here we present a population viability analysis to assess the long-term viability for Maui parrotbill (Kiwikiu) Pseudonestor xanthophrys, a federally endangered passerine on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Contrary to indications from population monitoring, our results indicate Maui parrotbills may be unlikely to persist beyond 25 y. Our modeling suggests female mortality as a primary factor driving this decline. To evaluate and compare management options involving captive-rearing and translocation strategies we made a female-only stage-structured, meta-population simulation model. Maui parrotbills have low reproductive potential in captivity; therefore, the number of individuals (∼20% of the global population) needed to source a reintroduction solely from captive reared birds is unrealistic. A reintroduction strategy that incorporates a minimal contribution from captivity and instead translocates mostly wild individuals was found to be the most feasible management option. Habitat is being restored on leeward east Maui, which may provide more favorable climate and habitat conditions and promote increased reproductive output. Our model provides managers with benchmarks for fecundity and survival needed to ensure reintroduction success, and highlights the importance of establishing a new population in potentially favorable habitat to ensure long-term persistence.

Genetic guidelines for captive breeding and reintroductions of the endangered Black-fronted Piping Guan, Aburria jacutinga (galliformes, cracidae), an Atlantic Forest endemic

The survival of a number of birds rely on captive breeding and reintroduction into the wild, but captive populations are often small and can be exposed to the negative effects of inbreeding and genetic drift. Then, managers are concerned not only with producing as much offspring as possible, but also with the retention of the maximum genetic variability within and between populations. The Black-fronted Piping Guan, Aburria jacutinga, is an endangered cracid endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern South America. Because of its conservation status and functional importance, a captive breeding program started independently, mainly in three aviaries, in the decade of 1980. Although they have supplied animals for reintroductions, genetic variability aspects have never been considered. Here we addressed levels of genetic variability within and between these aviaries. Bayesian clustering analyses revealed two lineages. Inbreeding was not detected, although we found evidences for a recent bottleneck in one of the aviaries. Then, our main management recommendations are: i) reintroducing the species in areas where it has been extinct is more prudent than supplementing natural populations, as it could involve risks of disrupting local adaptive complexes; ii) as far as inbreeding can be avoided, the captive groups should be managed separately to minimize adaptation to captivity; iii) crossbreedings in pre-release generations could improve reintroduction success; and iv) a studbook should be implemented. As populations of Black-fronted Piping Guan from conservation units are progressively declining, these captive genetic repositories may gain importance in a near future. Zoo Biol. 35:313-318, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Moriomorphini) of Haleakala-, Maui: Keystone of a hyperdiverse Hawaiian radiation

The Mecyclothorax carabid beetle fauna of Haleakalā volcano, Maui Island, Hawai‘i is taxonomically revised, with 116 species precinctive to Haleakalā recognized, 74 newly described. Species are classified into 14 species groups, with the newly described species arrayed as follows: 1, Mecyclothoraxconstrictus group with Mecyclothoraxperseveratussp. n.; 2, Mecyclothoraxobscuricornis group with Mecyclothoraxnotobscuricornissp. n., Mecyclothoraxmordaxsp. n., Mecyclothoraxmordicussp. n., Mecyclothoraxmanducussp. n., Mecyclothoraxambulatussp. n., Mecyclothoraxmontanussp. n., Mecyclothoraxwaikamoisp. n., Mecyclothoraxpooulisp. n., and Mecyclothoraxahulilisp. n.; 3, Mecyclothoraxrobustus group with Mecyclothoraxaffinissp. n., Mecyclothoraxanchisteussp. n., Mecyclothoraxconsanguineussp. n., Mecyclothoraxantaeussp. n., Mecyclothoraxcymindulussp. n., and Mecyclothoraxhaydenisp. n.; 4, Mecyclothoraxinterruptus group with Mecyclothoraxbradycelloidessp. n., Mecyclothoraxanthracinussp. n., Mecyclothoraxarthurisp. n., Mecyclothoraxmedeirosisp. n., Mecyclothoraxinconscriptussp. n., and Mecyclothoraxfoveolatussp. n.; 5, Mecyclothoraxsobrinus group with Mecyclothoraxfoveopunctatussp. n.; 6, Mecyclothoraxovipennis group with Mecyclothoraxsubtilis Britton & Liebherr, sp. n., Mecyclothoraxpatulussp. n., Mecyclothoraxpatagiatussp. n., Mecyclothoraxstrigosussp. n., Mecyclothoraxtakumiaesp. n., Mecyclothoraxparapicalissp. n., Mecyclothoraxmauiaesp. n., Mecyclothoraxsubternussp. n., Mecyclothoraxflaviventrissp. n., Mecyclothoraxcordaticollarissp. n., and Mecyclothoraxkrushelnyckyisp. n.; 7, Mecyclothoraxargutor group with Mecyclothoraxommatoplaxsp. n., Mecyclothoraxsemistriatussp. n., Mecyclothoraxrefulgenssp. n., Mecyclothoraxargutulussp. n., Mecyclothoraxplanipennissp. n., Mecyclothoraxplanatussp. n., and Mecyclothoraxargutuloidessp. n.; 8, Mecyclothoraxmicrops group with Mecyclothoraxmajorsp. n., Mecyclothoraxxestossp. n., Mecyclothoraxorbiculussp. n., and Mecyclothoraxcontractussp. n.; 9, Mecyclothoraxscaritoides group with Mecyclothoraxscaritessp. n., Mecyclothoraxtimberlakeisp. n., Mecyclothoraxcrassuloidessp. n., Mecyclothoraxcrassulussp. n., Mecyclothoraxgracilicollissp. n., and Mecyclothoraxdisparsp. n.; 10, Mecyclothoraxhaleakalae group with Mecyclothoraxreiteratussp. n., Mecyclothoraxsplendidussp. n., Mecyclothoraxbacrionissp. n., and Mecyclothoraxsimpulumsp. n.; 11, Mecyclothoraxvitreus group with Mecyclothoraxkipwillisp. n., Mecyclothoraxkipahulusp. n., Mecyclothoraxkaumakanisp. n., and Mecyclothoraxkuikisp. n.; 12, Mecyclothoraxmontivagus group with Mecyclothoraxrexsp. n.; 13, Mecyclothoraxducalis group with Mecyclothoraxaquilussp. n., Mecyclothoraxinvisitatussp. n., Mecyclothoraxlongiduxsp. n., and Mecyclothoraxbreviduxsp. n.; and 14, Mecyclothoraxpalustris group with Mecyclothoraxhephaestoidessp. n., Mecyclothoraxoculellussp. n., Mecyclothoraxbicolorissp. n., Mecyclothoraxbicoloratussp. n., Mecyclothoraxbilobatussp. n., Mecyclothoraxpalustroidessp. n., Mecyclothoraxfilipoidessp. n., Mecyclothoraxnanunctussp. n., Mecyclothoraxtauberorumsp. n., and Mecyclothoraxpausp. n.Mecyclothoraxinteger Sharp, stat. n. is recognized as a species distinct from Mecyclothoraxinterruptus Sharp. Because type series for species described by Blackburn, Karsch, and Sharp are most often divided among geographically remote collections, lectotypes are designated to stabilize the nomenclature. The radiation includes numerous cryptic sibling species best diagnosed using male genitalia, and photographs are used to represent the male genitalic variability observed among numerous dissected individuals. The large number of new species is based on substantial new collections made from all quarters of the mountain. The dense geographic sampling allows fine-scale discrimination of species boundaries, elucidating the geographic disjunctions that are associated with speciation within this hyperdiverse radiation. Disjunctions between closely related species precinctive to various areas of the mountain are not congruent across the different lineages of the radiation, indicating differential responses by the various lineages to past geological and geographical events. Of the 62 1’ latitude × 1’ longitude grid cells on Haleakalā that are occupied by Mecyclothorax beetles, 22 house 10 or more species, and 9 house 20 or more species. This substantial level of sympatry, associated with occupation of diverse microhabitats by these beetles, provides ample information useful for monitoring biodiversity of the natural areas of Haleakalā.