Phenotypic divergence but not genetic distance predicts assortative mating among species of a cichlid fish radiation.

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_2AE27CA74B38
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Phenotypic divergence but not genetic distance predicts assortative mating among species of a cichlid fish radiation.
Journal
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
Author(s)
Stelkens R.B., Seehausen O.
ISSN
1420-9101[electronic], 1010-061X[linking]
Publication state
Published
Issued date
08/2009
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
22
Number
8
Pages
1679-1694
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
The hypothesis of ecological divergence giving rise to premating isolation in the face of gene flow is controversial. However, this may be an important mechanism to explain the rapid multiplication of species during adaptive radiation following the colonization of a new environment when geographical barriers to gene flow are largely absent but underutilized niche space is abundant. Using cichlid fish, we tested the prediction of ecological speciation that the strength of premating isolation among species is predicted by phenotypic rather than genetic distance. We conducted mate choice experiments between three closely related, sympatric species of a recent radiation in Lake Mweru (Zambia/DRC) that differ in habitat use and phenotype, and a distantly related population from Lake Bangweulu that resembles one of the species in Lake Mweru. We found significant assortative mating among all closely related, sympatric species that differed phenotypically, but none between the distantly related allopatric populations of more similar phenotype. Phenotypic distance between species was a good predictor of the strength of premating isolation, suggesting that assortative mating can evolve rapidly in association with ecological divergence during adaptive radiation. Our data also reveals that distantly related allopatric populations that have not diverged phenotypically, may hybridize when coming into secondary contact, e.g. upon river capture because of diversion of drainage systems.
Keywords
Animals, Cichlids/genetics, Cichlids/physiology, Phenotype, Sexual Behavior, Animal
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
30/04/2009 12:06
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:10
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