Population structure of a nest parasite of Darwin's finches within its native and invasive ranges

Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, with endemic species on islands being at particular risk. Management programs can help to minimize these impacts, but such programs are most successful when they are well-informed. In the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, a recently introduced avian parasitic fly,Philornis downsi, has had strong negative effects on the survival of multiple endemic bird species, including several species of Darwin's finches. The fly now populates most of the major islands within the Archipelago and the need to better understand the population structure and connectivity patterns of this invasive fly has become increasingly apparent as various management efforts are being considered. Here, we use genomic and phylogenetic approaches to estimate population structure and connectivity forP. downsicollected from five islands within the Galapagos Islands and several sites in mainland Ecuador, which is the presumptive origin of the invasive population. Genomic data showed very little genetic differentiation between island populations ofP. downsirelative to the mainland. Phylogenetic analyses, which used more conservative genetic markers than the genomics approach, showed that island and mainland populations of flies were highly related. Our study provides some of the first results using genetic data to quantify differentiation among mainland and island populations ofP. downsi. In addition, our study found very little genetic differentiation between island populations of flies, suggesting that there may be considerable gene flow among islands; however, further sampling is needed to determine the extent to which this could be occurring. As management techniques aimed at controlling the impact of this parasite on endemic bird populations are being considered, our study provides important insights into the history ofP. downsi's invasion to the Galapagos Islands and current population connectivity patterns.

Automated summary

Invasive species pose a major threat to biodiversity, especially endemic species on islands. The introduction of the avian parasitic fly, Philornis downsi, in the Galapagos Islands has negatively impacted the survival of endemic bird species. Genetic analyses showed little differentiation between island and mainland populations of P. downsi, indicating high population connectivity. Further research is needed to fully understand the gene flow among island populations and to improve management efforts to control the impact of this parasite.