Genetic diversity in isolated island bird populations; assessing MHC diversity in Rowettia goughensis (Gough Bunting) and Gallinula comeri (Gough Moorhen) from Gough Island. MHC diversity in Rowettia goughensis (Gough Finch)

MHC loci are frequently used as a source of genetic markers in studies of population diversity and as an indicator of population health. This project aimed to assess MHC diversity in a sample of 23 Gough Finches and 43 moorhens collected from Gough Island in 2016. We successfully developed primers, amplified and sequenced the class II MHC B gene from all 66 birds. Selective cloning allowed us to validate each of the individual alleles in both species. We identified a greater amount of allelic diversity in the 22 finches (Six unique alleles and high levels of heterozygosity), while very little allelic diversity was observed in the 44 Moorhen samples (four alleles and only five heterozygous birds). This study suggests that the Gough Finch population has maintained a reasonable degree of genetic diversity which is in contrast with the limited diversity in the Gough Moorhens.