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Home , Baltra Island, Conolophus marthae, Fernandina Island, Marine iguana, Santa Fe Island

IUCN SSC Specialist Group Meeting 2014 28-29 October: Galápagos Land and Marine Workshop

ABSTRACTS

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

The Galápagos Land Iguana Conservation Program: History, Success and Challenges A. Izurieta Galápagos National Park, , Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos,

Not received

The North Seymour and Land Iguanas: Extinction, Good Luck, and Hard Work Challenges A. Izurieta Galápagos National Park, Puerto Ayora, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador

Not received

Early Restoration Ecology Efforts for Galapagos Land Iguanas ( subcristatus) Snell, Howard L.*1, Heidi M. Snell2, Cruz Marquez3, Cirilo Barrera3, Fausto Llerena3, Alison Llerena3 1Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA 2Tome Gallery, Tome, New Mexico, USA 3Puerto Ayora, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador While accounts of potentially declining populations of Galapagos Land iguanas go back several centuries, recent restoration efforts stem from observations reported by Craig McFarland and Dagmar Werner of large-scale mortality events on Islas Santa Cruz and Isabela in the mid 1970’s. Disease was suspected before predation by feral dogs was confirmed as the cause of mortality. Initial efforts attempted protection of adult iguanas from further predation by patrols and then translocations. Captive breeding and rearing of iguanas was initially elusive but eventually successful while research on the ecology of feral dogs led to successful eradication efforts by the early 1980s when the first repatriations of iguanas occurred at Cerro Dragon, Isla Santa Cruz and Bahia Cartago, Isla Isabela. Much documentation of the early history regarding the decline and recuperation of those populations has been lost in fires and discarded records.

Personal Observations on Galapagos Land Iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus) over the Past 40 years Tui De Roy 16 Burnside Road Takaka, New Zealand During my years living in the Galapagos Islands, I have had the opportunity to visit many remote parts of Isabela and Fernandina Islands that possibly no other observer has accessed. I therefore share photos and personal notes made during many of those expeditions, including: 1) iguana presence in small kipukas on the east flank of Darwin , 2) a nesting zone on the east coast of Darwin Volcano, 3) colour variations between and within semi-isolated populations on Isabela Island, 4) detailed observations of the nesting migrations inside the Fernandina , 6) consequences and reactions to cataclysmic volcanic events on .

Restauración Ecológica de la isla Seymour Norte: El caso de la erradicación de la rata negra (Rattus rattus) Sevilla-Paredes, Christian*, Dirección Parque Nacional Galápagos, [email protected] Rueda Cordova, Danny*, Dirección Parque Nacional Galápagos, [email protected] Seymour Norte es una plataforma elevada de 184 hectáreas de superficie que se caracteriza por tener su costa primariamente rocosa y tener dos playas. La vegetación es xerofítica y carece de cuerpos de agua permanentes. Seymour Norte esta pertenece enteramente dentro de áreas del PNG y tiene un sitio de visita. Aquí anidan especies notables de aves marinas (fragatas y piqueros de patas azules); así como iguanas terrestres y marinas y dos especies de culebra. Sin embargo, desde 1986 se registró la presencia de la rata negra (Rattus rattus) en la isla, sin conocer a profundidad el impacto que estaba produciendo sobre la biota propia de la isla. Debido a que los roedores introducidos, básicamente R. rattus, Rattus norvegicus y Mus musculus, tienen severos impactos sobre la integridad ecológica de los ecosistemas que han invadido, en el 2007, se desarrolló un plan estratégico para erradicar roedores introducidos en las islas medianas y pequeñas, siendo considerada Seymour Norte como el sitio piloto para validar la metodología y entrenar al personal. En ese contexto se han logrado básicamente tres objetivos: (1) Desarrollo de la metodología para la evaluación de las poblaciones presentes en la isla y de los de riesgos de la campaña de erradicación de rata negra mediante el uso del anticoagulante específico para roedores Klerat®. (2) Erradicación de las ratas mediante la aplicación del veneno en la isla en dos campañas de envenenamiento, y (3) Evaluación de la efectividad del veneno utilizado, el nivel de afección a otras especies y nivel de éxito de la campaña.

Safeguarding the South Plaza Galapagos Land Iguana during Rodent Eradication using Brodifacoum Tapia, Washington, Joseph Flanagan, Karl Campbell, and Patricia Jaramillo Galapagos National Park Directorate, Houston Zoo, Inc., Island Conservation, Foundation The house mouse (Mus musculus), introduced to the Galapagos Islands through human activities, has been found on (12 ha) since the early 1980s. A decline in the arborescent prickly pear (Opuntia echios echios) has occurred since mice invaded. This cactus is a major food item and source of water for the South Plaza land iguana (Conolophus subcritatus) population. Mice undermine the root system of the cactus, resulting ultimately in cactus death. Brodifacoum is an anticoagulant rodenticide used in rodent eradications. Preliminary work with green iguanas indicated a low risk of toxicity in this , and presumably in other iguana species. A plan to safeguard the population of iguanas on South Plaza during a rodent eradication campaign was developed. Forty iguanas (approximately 10% of population) were held temporarily in captivity ex-situ during bait application and until no remnants of bait were present (~60 days). In November 2012, were captured, weighed, measured, had blood collected from the ventral tail vein, and treated systemically with ivermectin at 0.2 mg/kg and sprayed with “Provent-a-mite” (permethrin II) to prevent the potential transfer of endo and ectoparasites to the holding pens on Santa Cruz Island. Actions were taken to minimize risks of seed dispersal via iguanas between islands, for that reason their feces were collected and the seeds separated and identified. Animals were housed in outdoor pens originally designed for the land iguana breeding program. Iguanas left on S. Plaza were provisioned at pre-established sites using prickly pear pads from Santa Cruz Island. The mitigation plan’s success metrics were met, with in-situ survival of 97.75%, ex-situ survival of 100%, and no population level decline observed one-year post baiting. There was no evidence of internal or external parasites when captive-held iguanas were returned.

Conservation of a Vital Site on Isla Isabela, Galápagos Tosney, Kathryn The University of Miami, Florida, USA, and The Isabela Outreach Initiative (IOI), Isla Isabela, Galápagos, Ecuador Marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), endemic to the Galápagos, are IUCN-listed as vulnerable because of el Niños, human activities and introduced predators. Dogs have been documented to prey on adults, and Islands with cats show “a conspicuous absence of juveniles” thought likely to presage local extinction. Despite Puerto Villamil’s many free-ranging dogs and cats, my five-year study has documented a site, “El Mirador,” that successfully sustains young iguanas. For example, in July 2014, while all 40 babies that hatched at a nearby National Park site failed to survive the month, at El Mirador, ~250 hatched, and although many emigrated, ~180 babies and ~150 two-to-four year-olds remained. El Mirador has special characteristics that support young. Its gentle slope affords safe intertidal foraging for young iguanas which are too small to survive a dive into the sea. Its rock crevices offer shelter, and a water-filled crevasse minimizes predation. Large gravid females migrate kilometers to contend for nesting sites in the adjacent grass-stabilized, sandy area which, unfortunately, is part of a public beach. Because these iguana eggs are laid shallowly, human foot traffic can kill embryos. Over the last four years, however, thanks to a coalition between IOI, the Municipio and the National Park local office, the nesting area has been protected by temporary fences. The Park now uses a video about El Mirador in its summer school. Nevertheless, conservation of this iguana group remains precarious. There is pressure to return the beach fully to human use and to remove nearby in which many adult females reside. Despite such ongoing human threats, my study documents the characteristics of El Mirador that successfully support young iguanas; those characteristics can help to identify additional sites of conservation importance.

Traffic of iguanas Enrique Angermeyer Galápagos National Park, Puerto Ayora, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador July 8, 2012 at the airport in Baltra was discovered during baggage checking a suitcase that passes through the X-ray was found inside luggage four iguanas. To then make the observation of the suitcase contents, they proceeded to call the owner of the suitcase and that belonged to Dirk Bender, and then continue with the procedure and to open the suitcase, after opening they found four juveniles iguanas, species Conoluphus subcristatus, this species is in the vulnerable category in the list of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Here I illustrate the follow up of such a case, for the purposes of contrasting new cases of illegal traffic.

Illegal wildlife trade in Galápagos: molecular tools help the taxonomic identification of confiscated iguanas and guide their rapid repatriation

Gabriele Gentile1*, Marco Ciambotta1, Washington Tapia2

1 University of Rome “TOR VERGATA”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, snc. 00133 Rome, Italy

2 Conservation and Sustainable Development Department, Galápagos National Park Directorate, P.to Ayora, Galápagos

Four species of iguanas occur in Galápagos. All of them are included in the red list of the IUCN (the International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and are protected under the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in of Wild Fauna and Flora). In Ecuador, attempting to remove wildlife from the Galápagos Islands is a serious environmental crime, punishable under Articles of the Ecuadorian Criminal Code. On July 2012, a tourist was arrested in Galápagos while trying to illegally transport four iguanas out of the province. The four iguanas, confiscated by the authorities of Galápagos National Park, needed rapid taxonomic identification and determination of geographic origin for the purposes of repatriation. The phylogenetic analysis of the Cytochrome b sequence data contributed to the unequivocal molecular taxonomic identification of the four confiscated iguanas, each of which belonged to the species C. subcristatus. The genetic data unambiguously indicated that the four confiscated iguanas had been subtracted from the same population, currently distributed in Baltra and Seymour Norte. The use of molecular tools proved crucial for the rapid assessment of the population of origin. Such a rapid assessment was possible because a large genetic database was already available for Galápagos iguanas. It is recommended that genetic programs be developed for the complete genetic characterization of wildlife in Galápagos as well as in other areas of worldwide.

Autecology of Land/Marine Iguanas: Intermediate or Skewed? Snell, Howard L.*1, Heidi M. Snell2, Paul Stone 3 1Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA 2Tome Gallery, Tome, New Mexico, USA 3Biology Department, Central Oklahoma University, Edmond, Oklahoma, USA Female marine and male land iguanas occasionally hybridize on Isla Plaza Sur. Morphologically, hybrids are often intermediate between land and marine iguanas – tails, limbs, and toes are longer than land but shorter than marine iguanas while heads are shorter than land but longer than marine iguanas. We questioned whether their habitat use and growth would also be intermediate or skewed towards one of the parent species. All of our observations of hybrids were terrestrial as was their apparent diet suggesting an ecological skew towards land iguanas. However they grow considerably faster than land iguanas – and unexpected result if their diet actually is terrestrial.

Does hybridization between Amblyrhynchus cristatus and Conolophus subcristatus play a role in shaping the evolution of iguanas at Plaza Sur? Di Giambattista, Livia*1, Gabriele Gentile1 1 Università degli studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Hybridization plays a fundamental role as driver of evolutionary change. It is a phenomenon already known in Galapagos vertebrate taxa, including iguanas. In fact, in Plaza Sur Island, morphologically unusual iguanas have been found, which a prior genetic study by Rassmann et al. (1997) identified as F1 hybrids between Amblyrhynchus cristatus (marine iguana) males and, Conolophus subcristatus (land iguana) females. That study was based on 10 marine iguanas, 10 land iguanas, and 1 hybrid and was performed by using Cyt b sequence data and RFLP of a nuclear ribosomal DNA gene. The study concluded that hybridization plays a negligible role in the evolution of iguanas at Plaza Sur. To thoroughly investigate the issue, we genetically investigated 75 marine iguanas, 109 land iguanas and 6 putative F1 hybrids by using 15 microsatellite markers to assess the hybrid class of hybrid individuals and the level of genetic introgression within the two parental species.

Preliminary data on the diet of (Pink Iguana). Can feces contribute to plant dispersal? Jaramillo Patricia1, Tapia Washington2 Cueva Pablo1 and Gentile Gabriele3 Charles Darwin Foundation1*, Galápagos Conservacy2, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy3 Three species of land iguanas exist in Galápagos: , endemic of ; C. subcristatus, occurring in six islands, and C. marthae that is limited to a range less than 25 km² with a core area less than 10 km², on the northern slopes of Volcan Wolf (Isabela island). The pink iguana is listed in the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered. Threats are several and include feral cats and black rats that may predate on eggs and juveniles. This multidisciplinary study aims at i) providing data of the components of the diet of C. marthae and ii) investigating if feces contribute to seed dispersal throughout the area of distribution of the species. Plants and scats found in the natural habitat were collected. Seeds in scats were counted and identified. In total we were able to separate and identify 9095 seeds, belonging to 16 species of vascular plants of which 11 were endemic and 4 native. No was found. One species has not been identified, yet. To confirm that the seeds were properly identified and to prove potential for plant dispersal, germination experiments were performed. An inventory of all vascular vegetation present in the area of study was made for future reference. Lippia rosmarinifolia, Physalis galapagoensis, Brachiaria multiculma, Froelichia nudicaulis, Physalis pubescens, Solanum erianthum and Acalypha parvula were the most abundant species. Finally, as a contribution to future studies, all the seeds were entered as part of the CDS carpological Herbarium and data were integrated in the guide of seeds of Galápagos.

Assessing hybridization and introgression levels between Conolophus marthae and C. subcristatus. Di Giambattista, Livia*1, Gabriele Gentile1 1 Università degli studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy The Galapagos pink land iguana (Conolophus marthae) is a recently described iguana species, critically endangered, endemic of Volcan Wolf in the northern Isabela Island. The species is syntopic with a population of yellow land iguana (Conolophus subcristatus). Research needs for the purposes of conservation actions include the clarification of the frequency of hybridization and level of genetic introgression between C. marthae and C. subcristatus. Here we present results of a genetic study by using 20 microsatellite loci.

Impact of ecto- and endoparasites on two populations of Conolophus marthae and Conolophus subcristatus on the Vulcan Wolf (Isabela): analysis of haematological markers. Michela Onoratia* and Gabriele Gentileb aDepartment of Science, University of Roma Tre, Italy bDepartment of Biology, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Italy Free-ranging animals must struggle against a variety of environmental challenges and man-mediated alterations that can cause high stress conditions. Among the most hostile consequences of prolonged stress are disruption of behaviour and reproductive physiology and the alteration of population fitness. In general, ecto- and endoparasites are important stressors for wild animals; they may affect individual health and fitness-related traits. In the Galápagos, some populations of land iguanas are strongly impacted by ticks, ectoparasites able to transmit the Hepatozoon, an apicomplexan haemoparasite included in the Hepatozoidae of hemogregarines. The impact of Hepatozoon infections on is poorly known. Generally Hepatozoon spp. cause anemia and blood cell abnormalities leading to immunosuppression, they may determine a reduction of individual growth and reproductive fitness. Here, we evaluate the impact of ecto (ticks)- and endoparasites (Hepatozoon) on two syntopic populations of Conolophus marthae and Conolophus subcristatus present on Vulcan Wolf (Isabela) throughout the analysis, from blood smears (2009-2010-2012-2014), of haematological markers as: the leukocyte formula (white blood cells count; infection and diseases cause alterations in their numbers), prevalence (percentage of individuals with infection) and parasites load (number of parasites infecting each single host). A population of C. subcristatus sampled from Bahia Urbina (2014), where the presence of ticks is not so massive as on Vulcan Wolf, is used as comparison. Additionally, we analyse also the incidence (the proportion of new cases within the study period) to evaluate changes in the receptivity and tolerance of populations and possible variations in the diffusion of infection. The study of pathogenic impact on wild populations is clearly a fundamental factor to consider when assessing their welfare especially if species at issue have a critical as C. marthae, listed as “critically endangered” in the IUCN Red List.

Conolophus marthae vs. Conolophus subcristatus: does the skin pigmentation pattern exert a protective role against DNA damaging effect induced by UV light exposure? Analysis of blood smears through the micronucleus test. Bianca Gustavino, Silvia Terrinoni, Camilla Paglierani, Gabriele Gentile*. Department of Biology, University of Tor Vergata - Rome (Italy). The absence of skin pigmentation in Conolophus marthae, the pink iguana of Galapagos, seems to contrast with its habitat, the volcano Wolff of the Isabela Island. Indeed, adaptation to such an environment, characterized by an extremely high level of solar radiation due to the latitude (equatorial line) and the altitude (1707 mt) would imply the maintenance/acquisition of a protective mechanism against UV-induced DNA damaging effects, mainly directed to epidermis cells. In a close species of Galapagos iguanas, Conolophus subcristatus, a protective shield against UV irradiation is represented by a yellow skin pigmentation. Purpose of our investigation is to verify whether the presence of skin pigmentation plays a protective role against adverse effects induced by UV radiation. To address the question, a preliminary screening was carried out to estimate the level of spontaneous DNA damage induced in somatic cells by environmental exposure through a simple cytogenetic approach, the micronucleus test in blood erythrocytes. Blood smears of specimens belonging to the two species of iguanas, C. marthae and C. subcristatus, have been analyzed, which share the same environment and are exposed to the same potential mutagen(s). Samples collected from individuals of marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) have also been studied as a potential control sample population, which differ from the terrestrial species for their intense skin pigmentation and habitat (i.e., low level of exposure to solar radiation and volcanic radioactivity). The frequencies of both micronuclei (MN) and nuclear anomalies (NA) were analyzed, the former representing the frequency of induced mutations, the latter the induction of different phenomena of chromatin rearrangement, among which gene amplification. A very significant increase of NA frequency was found in C. marthae erythrocytes compared to both C. subcristatus and A. cristatus, while no differences of MN frequencies were found among all the three species. No statistical differences were found between sexes within each species, for either MN or NA frequencies. Our findings suggest the possibility of a role of skin pigmentation on DNA sensitivity to UV light exposure of erythrocytes in the species of iguana here examined. However, the mechanisms underlying the observed effects of the new open questions to be investigated, such as the possibility of gene amplification in response to stress (and mutagenic) factors.

When Pink is a question: Plasma Vitamin D levels in pigmented and partially pigmented land iguanas from Galápagos (Conolophus spp.) Maurizio Fraziano1, Leo Pucillo2, Cristina Di Giacomo2, Gabriele Gentile1* 1Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Tor Vergata, Roma, Italia 2Istituto Nazionale di Malattie Infettive, L. Spallanzani, Roma, Italia The vitamin D system in iguanian was described by (Laing and Fraser, 1999). In iguanas, 25(OH)D is the major metabolite of vitamin D. As in mammals, this metabolite is the storage form of vitamin D. In fact, high concentration of vitamin D in the embryos and yolk of iguanas, possibly mediated by a mechanism similar to the one in birds (Fraser and Emtage, 1976), indicates a role of the vitamin in embryogenesis (Laing and Fraser, 1999). As mammals and birds, iguanas not exposed to UV light may suffer from vitamin D3 deficiency and consequent calcium deficiency, which strongly affect bone formation of the embryo, and the hatchability of eggs (Bernard JB et al., 1991). In general, low plasma vitamin D concentrations are cause of the Metabolic Bone Disease, the principal complex of diseases of reptiles in captivity (Laing et al., 2001). Despite the fact that captive management and clinical diagnosis would strongly benefit from studies of natural populations, little is published regarding mean plasma concentration in iguanas in the wild. From a comparison between species across literature, which requires caution given the diversity of methods of assessment, it seems reasonable that concentration of vitamin D may vary between and within iguana species (Ramer et al., 2005). Here we report the first data of vitamin D plasma levels in natural populations of three species land iguanas endemic to Galápagos islands (Conolophus marthae, C. subcristatus, and C. pallidus). We discuss interspecific differences in plasma vitamin D the light of differences of skin pigmentation between species.

Genetic differentiation of Hepatozoon spp. (Apicomplexa) in Galápagos Land Iguanas (Conolophus spp.) Arianna Fulvo1,2, Simon Goodman2, Gabriele Gentile1* 1 Università degli studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy 2 School of Biology, University of Leeds, UK Hepatozoon is an obligate intraerythrocytic parasite that needs more than one obligatory host to complete its life cycle. Sporogeny occurs in invertebrate vectors, which might include bugs, ticks, biting flies and mosquitoes (Telford, 2009). The Hepatozoon (Miller, 1908) has, among Apicomplexa, one of the widest spectrum of possible vertebrate hosts as it can be found in amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The genus includes hundreds of species, whose actual number is largely undetermined as species identification is mainly based on morphological criteria that are prone to taxonomic diversity underestimation (Telford, 1984; Harris et al. 2001). Using sequence data of the 18S nuclear gene we investigated the genetic differentiation of Hepatozoon infecting land iguanas throughout the whole archipelago. Results showed that four different strains of Hepatozoon infect Galapagos land iguanas. Genetic diversity positively correlated with abundance of ticks.

Pink Iguanas: a boost to the environmental education of the archipelago Viviana De la Rosa Environmental Education and Social Participation, Galápagos National Park Environmental education is a strategic element in the conservation of the Galapagos Islands, it encourages a change in attitude and behavior in its inhabitants, which promotes the harmonious relationship between man and nature. The new species of land iguana in the archipelago, pink, newly discovered, provides an important opportunity for environmental education and the development of the Galapagos identity among the local population. Through the subjects of natural sciences, the species allows local students known about the exclusivity of the different species of the archipelago, their interrelationship in the ecosystem and their lifestyle. Moreover, these unique and strange species to mankind, increase pride of Galápagos citizens of being part of this ecosystem, interiorize the need to care for such an ecosystem, and magnify the sense of belonging. For the Galápagos National Park this discovery is the best example of the Galápagos Islands are a living laboratory of science and evolution, which we still have much to learn.

The Galápagos Pink Land Iguana: What do we know so far? What are we going to do now? Gabriele Gentile1*, Arturo Izurieta2 1 Università degli studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy 2 Galápagos National Park, Santa Cruz, Ecuador We started investigating the Galapagos Pink Land Iguana (Conolophus marthae) in 2005. Data collected allowed the inclusion of C. marthae in the IUCN Red List under the category “Critically Endangered”. Small population size, limited area of distribution, possible competition with C. subcristatus, low genetic variation, demographic and environmental stochasticity are among the most relevant threats. Ectoparasite load is also high in both Galápagos Land Iguanas and Pink Iguanas on Volcán Wolf. In fact, the location is characterized by a massive occurrence of ticks, which are much more abundant in Volcán Wolf than elsewhere in the archipelago. Among priorities for future research: a nesting ecology study in order to understand habitat requirements, nesting season, and possible competition between species for nesting sites. Research associated with a possible captive breeding program, which in this case means completing the assessment of the diet, as the genetic characterization of C. marthae and C. subcristatus on Volcán Wolf is now complete.

POSTERS

Conservation of Galápagos land iguanas: genetic monitoring and predictions of a long-term program on the island of Santa Cruz Fabiani, Anna*1, Sabrina Rosa 2, Emiliano Trucchi 3, Cruz Marquez 3, Howard L. Snell 4, Heidi M. Snell4, Washington Tapia Aguilera3, Gabriele Gentile1

1 Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy 2 Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetic, Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, rue Jeener et Brachet 12, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium 3 Galápagos National Park Service, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador 4 Department of Biology and Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA The distribution of the Galápagos land iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus) has been strongly affected by human activities in the last century. Previously widespread throughout the whole archipelago, today they inhabit only few islands, with populations often small and isolated. In this study, we analysed the population genetic structure of land iguanas from Santa Cruz Island to investigate the genetic implications of a semi-captive conservation program that started in middle 1970s and is still ongoing. Nine microsatellites were used to measure the level of genetic variability and to detect potential evidence of inbreeding and genetic sub-structure. Furthermore, we used Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC), together with software packages for coalescent-based simulations, to test a priori hypotheses in different demographic scenarios. Despite the abrupt reduction in size of the original population, no evidence of inbreeding was found and the levels of genetic variability found place between those of undisturbed populations of the archipelago. Nevertheless, the source and the repatriated populations started differentiating (FST = 0.016) and genetic sub-structure was found. Following our results and the simulation of possible future scenarios, we suggest the genetic measures that should be adopted to avoid further genetic variability depletion and preserve this vulnerable endemic species.

Antibiotic resistance in commensal bacteria of the land iguanas from Galápagos (Conolophus subcristatus and C. pallidus) M.C. Thaller1, L. Migliore1, A. Castello1, M. Torrente1, W. Tapia2, M. Cruz3, G.M. Rossolini4, G. Gentile1 1 Dip. Biologia, Università Tor Vergata, Roma; 2 Galápagos National Park Service, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos (Ecuador); 3 Galapagos Biosecurity Agency; 4 Dip. Microbiologia e Genetica, Le Scotte, Università di Siena In recent years, the presence of acquired resistance traits has been investigated in the commensal microbiota of various wildlife animals, to better understand the ecology and dynamics of dissemination of antibiotic resistance determinants. Most of the available data concern mammals and birds from various settings (either remote or more promiscuous) and the results have stressed the need for a systemic and ecological approach to this problem. Collecting data from free-livings animals, will help to understand how deeply human activity can influence the diffusion of antimicrobial resistance, and how microorganisms circulate among species. The present study was aimed to collect data on commensals from a species that lives in a protected environment, avoid of both antibiotic pressure and close interactions with other animal species or humans, the terrestrial iguana from Galápagos archipelago: Conolophus pallidus