SNP genotyping of Lord Howe woodhen (Hypotaenidia sylvestris) from museum skins and contemporary blood samples

These data are from a conservation genetics project investigating
population structure, dispersal and genetic bottlenecks in the
Lord Howe woodhen Hypotaenidia sylvestris. This species recovered
from near extinction in the 1970s to approximately 250
individuals in 2017. We used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to
genotype samples of both the contemporary population and
100-year-old museum specimens. We discovered strong population structuring
between mountain and lowland "subpopulations" in both the
contemporary and historic populations. This is indicative
of restricted dispersal at fine spatial scales associated with
rugged topography. There was also a decline in genetic diversity
over the past century. We recommend ongoing genetic monitoring
and translocations to increase genetic diversity within the re-established
lowland subpopulation which although numerically stronger is genetically
depleted relative to the mountain subpopulation.