The Generation of a High-Quality De Novo Genome Assembly for the Endemic Galápagos Dove
Eva J. Driggs
Department of Biology
Faculty Supervisor: Jaime A. Chaves
The Galápagos dove (Zenaida galapagoensis) is endemic to all major Galápagos islands. Populations have declined 20–29% over the last decade, primarily due to introduced predators (cats) and human disturbance. Despite urgent conservation needs, population connectivity and structure across both subspecies and most islands remain poorly understood. Previous studies indicated substantial gene flow across five islands within one subspecies, yet key genetic metrics remain unexplored, emphasizing the need for deeper analysis to inform effective conservation strategies. Here, we report a high-quality, de novo chromosomal assembly as the first genome for Z. galapagoensis. A male was collected on Pinzón Island and sequenced via long-read PacBio sequencing. The genome is 1.15 Gb, with Hi-C scaffolding yielding 173 scaffolds, 86.07X average coverage, scaffold N50 of 33.8 Mb, and BUSCO completeness of 99.63%. We also report the first complete mitogenome for this species: 19,538 bp containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and a control region with internal duplications and repeats. Population genetic analyses used low-coverage Illumina genomes for 54 individuals from 15 islands to explore subpopulation structure and resolve subspecific designations. Together, these resources provide a foundation for future conservation and population studies of this declining endemic.