Is the black robin in genetic peril?

In 1980 the entire black robin species Petroica traversi comprised only five birds, and the current population of approximate to 200 individuals is known to be derived from a single breeding pair. We show here that levels of minisatellite DNA variation in the black robin are among the lowest reported for any avian species in the wild. Surprisingly, similarly bottlenecked control populations of a closely related species (P. australis australis) exhibit significantly higher levels of genetic variation. This suggests that the black robin's persistence in a single small population for the last 100 years, rather than the recent bottleneck itself, accounts for the low genetic variation observed. Despite apparent genetic impoverishment, survival and reproductive performance indicate that the black robin is viable under existing conditions. This example illustrates that significant levels of genetic variation are not a necessary prerequisite for endangered species' survival.