GENETIC DIVERSITY AND DIVERGENCE OF ENDANGERED GALAPAGOS AND HAWAIIANPETREL POPULATIONS

The genetic diversity and divergence of populations of Galapagos and H awaiian Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia and sandwichensis, respectively) were investigated using allozyme electrophoresis. Within the Galapago s Islands, P. phaeopygia samples were monomorphic at 12 of 13 loci. Th e Hawaiian population P. sandwichensis was monomorphic at all 13 loci. One fixed allelic difference was found between P. phaeopygia and P. s andwichensis. Eleven loci were fixed for the same allele in both popul ations. Our results indicate that there has been no recent gene flow b etween Galapagos and Hawaiian Petrels, but gene how occurs among Galap agos populations of P. phaeopygia. The existence of a unique genetic v ariant discriminating Galapagos and Hawaiian Petrels, in addition to p reviously documented morphological and behavioral differences, support s the recent elevation of these two taxa to species status.