Genetic Diversity of Invasive Grey-Headed Swamphens in Florida Compared to Native Gallinules

Genetic Diversity of Invasive Grey-Headed Swamphens in Florida Compared to Native Gallinules

Alvin Sherman Library

Invasive species outcompete native ones and threaten ecosystem stability. The grey-headed swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus), established in southeast Florida since 1996, continues to expand into the northern Everglades and Lake Okeechobee despite prior eradication attempts. This study is comparing the genetic diversity of invasive grey-headed swamphens to the genetic diversity of native purple (P. martinica) and common (Gallinula galeata) gallinules to better understand invasion history, competitive potential, and ecosystem impacts. Muscle tissue samples of P. porphyrio collected by the Florida Museum of Natural History from 1999-2023 and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) from 2022-2024 is being analyzed along with samples of native gallinules obtained from local wildlife rehabilitation centers from 2015-2025. DNA was extracted and the mitochondrial control region (mtDNA) will be amplified with primers. PCR products will be visualized on agarose gels, sequenced, and haplotypes detected and compared across species and time periods. Numbers and distributions of P. porphyrio haplotypes will be evaluated for patterns of genetic variation and insights into establishment dynamics. Additionally, SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) will be used to evaluate and compare levels of genetic diversity in different species.