The conservation management implications of isolation by distance and high genetic diversity in Great Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx haastii)

ABSTRACT

Maintaining genetic diversity and genetic structure in threatened species is recognised as important, but genetic data are frequently missing from management plans. We use a panel of 11 highly polymorphic microsatellites to describe genetic diversity and genetic structure in the Great Spotted Kiwi/Roroa (Apteryx haastii) (GSK). This flightless bird still occupies the majority of its historical range, but its population has become increasingly fragmented due to human activities. Using the most spatially continuous sample set yet collected for this species, we show that extant GSK exhibit high genetic diversity and clear signals of isolation by distance, where there is a strong correlation between genetic similarity and geographic distance between individuals. This suggests that most GSK do not disperse particularly far (15–20 km) and are most likely to settle and mate with close neighbours, promoting fine-scale genetic structuring and high genetic diversity overall. These findings are important for the management of GSK, as current efforts seek to rebuild depleted populations and restore the species back to its full range prior to human arrival in New Zealand. Our data have already been integrated into the GSK recovery plan, informing policy on translocations and other restoration opportunities.

KEYWORDS:

• Conservation
• flightless birds
• genetics
• New Zealand birds
• nocturnal birds
• wildlife management

Acknowledgements

We thank the New Zealand Department of Conservation/Te Papa Atawhai, Friends of Flora, Paparoa Wildlife Trust, Arthur’s Pass Wildlife Trust and MBC Environmental for field work (including kiwi capture and feather collection), Te Rūnaka o Ngāti Waewae, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Rarua Atiawa for guidance and permission, Jo Carpenter for assistance with lab work and initial genotype calling, Jonathan Gardner for allowing us to work in his lab, the GSK recovery group for helpful discussion and collaboration over these data (in particular Robin and Sandy Toy), the editors, and three anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on earlier versions of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Data accessibility statement

All microsattelite genotypes for this study have been deposited on Dryad and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tx95x69x9

Additional information

Funding

Funding was provided by Birdlife International, the Allan Wilson Centre, and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Samples were collected in accordance with the methods approved in the Kiwi Best Practice Manual (Robertson and Colbourne 2003) and with appropriate permits.