Comparative Genomics of Embryonic Pathology in the Critically Endangered ‘Alala

The Hawaiian crow, or ‘alala, survives now only in captivity under the management of the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program. Only a handful of wild-caught birds have produced chicks that have survived and then reproduced. As a consequence, ‘alala are becoming increasingly inbred and are suffering reproductive losses that compromise the future of the species.

Congenital anomalies are recognized in ‘alala and there are likely also genes whose lethality becomes manifest in the embryonic state as chicks develop. A very real risk for the survival of the ‘alala involves its genetic fragility. Genetic tools that help identify genes associated with developmental anomalies and developmental arrest and death prior, or at the time of, hatching are now being developed for the first time in avian species. While it is anticipated that more powerful tools will become available and/or could be developed specifically to address genetic disease concerns in ’alala, it is important to begin to save samples that will provide the basis for undertaking such work. The survival of a species could be at stake.

This project will develop resources and procedures for collecting embryonic, developing chick, and hatchling postmortem specimens as part of a focused effort to better understand developmental pathology in the ‘alala.

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