Reproductive isolation between two closely related species of the Queensland fruit fly Dracus tryoni (Frogg) and D. neohumeralis Hardy (Diptera : Tephritidae) I. Variation in humeral callus pattern and the occurrence of intermediate colour forms in the wild

1967 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 501 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Wolda

A number of samples from wild populations of the Queensland fruit fly, Dacus tryoni and D. neohumeralis, were studied. There is a considerable variation in the colour pattern on the humeral callus. This variation is continuous so that any criterion for distinguishing between "intermediates" and "good species" is purely arbitrary. It was found in areas where D. neohumeralis does not occur as well as in localities where it is very abundant. By whatever criterion one defines intermediates, there appears to be no relation between the frequency of such forms and the presence or absence of D. neohumeralis or with the relative proportions of the two species in the population. However, flies with only a very small yellow area on an otherwise brown humeral callus were found only in Cairns where D. neohumeralis is usually the most abundant species. A similar variation in humeral callus pattern was found in other related species, such as D. kraussi and D. halfordiae. It is concluded that the intermediate colour forms may not be hybrids between D. tryoni and D. neohumeralis but variants of D. tryoni and, possibly the darker forms from Cairns, of D. neohumeralis.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.F. González-Rojas ◽  
K. Darragh ◽  
J Robles ◽  
M. Linares ◽  
S Schulz ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTColour pattern has been long recognised as the trait that drives mate recognition betweenHeliconiusspecies that are phylogenetically close. However, when this cue is compromised such as in cases of mimetic, sympatric and closely related species, alternative mating signals must evolve to ensure reproductive isolation and species integrity. The closely related speciesHeliconius melpomene malletiandH. timareta florencia, occur in the same geographic region and despite being co-mimics they display strong reproductive isolation. In order to test which cues differ between species, and therefore potentially contribute to reproductive isolation, we quantified differences in wing phenotype and male chemical profile. As expected, wing colour pattern was indistinguishable between the two species while the chemical profile of their male sex pheromones showed marked differences. We then conducted behavioural experiments to study the importance of these signals in mate recognition by females. In agreement with our previous results, we found that pheromones and not wing colour pattern drive the preference of females by conspecific males. In addition, experiments with hybrid males and females suggested an important genetic component for both pheromone production and preference. Altogether, these results suggest that pheromones are the major reproductive barrier opposing gene flow between these two sister and co-mimic species.


2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1926) ◽  
pp. 20200587 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. González-Rojas ◽  
K. Darragh ◽  
J. Robles ◽  
M. Linares ◽  
S. Schulz ◽  
...  

Colour pattern is the main trait that drives mate recognition between Heliconius species that are phylogenetically close. However, when this cue is compromised such as in cases of mimetic, sympatric and closely related species, alternative mating signals must evolve to ensure reproductive isolation and species integrity. The closely related species Heliconius melpomene malleti and H. timareta florencia occur in the same geographical region, and despite being co-mimics, they display strong reproductive isolation. In order to test which cues differ between species, and potentially contribute to reproductive isolation, we quantified differences in the wing phenotype and the male chemical profile. As expected, the wing colour pattern was indistinguishable between the two species, while the chemical profile of the androconial and genital males' extracts showed marked differences. We then conducted behavioural experiments to study the importance of these signals in mate recognition by females. In agreement with our previous results, we found that chemical blends and not wing colour pattern drive the preference of females for conspecific males . Also, experiments with hybrid males and females suggested an important genetic component for both chemical production and preference. Altogether, these results suggest that chemicals are the major reproductive barrier opposing gene flow between these two sister and co-mimic species.


2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 368-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J Fitzpatrick ◽  
Evelyn Szewczyk

Denticles are small projections on the underside of larval fruit flies that are used to grip the substrate while crawling. Previous studies have shown that (i) there is natural variation in denticle number and pattern between Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen, 1830) and several closely related species and (ii) mutations affecting denticle morphology have negative effects on locomotory performance. We hypothesized that there would be a correlation between denticle number and locomotory performance within populations of D. melanogaster. Despite finding considerable variation in denticle number, we found no correlation between denticle number and three measurements of larval locomotion: speed, acceleration, and absolute turning rate.


Mammalia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-120
Author(s):  
Elitsa Popova ◽  
Diana Zlatanova

AbstractThe gray wolf and the domestic dog are closely related species that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. In settings where unrestrained dogs are present in the wild, hybridization can happen naturally. However, the behavior of the resulting hybrids and their ecological impact is largely understudied. In September–November 2018, a putative gray wolf was repeatedly camera-trapped in a group of 10 presumably feral dogs in a remote mountainous area (the Osogovo Mountain) along the border between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. The most feasible explanation for this individual’s atypical behavior is that it is of hybrid origin (assumption based on phenotype). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented observation of such a kind. A discussion of its recruitment and position in the group is presented, setting the basis for further investigation of the complex interaction between wolves, dogs and hybrids in the wild.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 866
Author(s):  
Jerzy Błoszyk ◽  
Katarzyna Buczkowska ◽  
Anna Maria Bobowicz ◽  
Alina Bączkiewicz ◽  
Zbigniew Adamski ◽  
...  

The study presented in this research paper is the first taxonomic investigation focusing on Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) mites with a brief discussion of the genetic differences of two very closely related species from the genus Oodinychus Berlese, 1917, i.e. O. ovalis (C.L. Koch, 1839) and O. karawaiewi (Berlese, 1903). These two morphologically similar species are quite common and they have a wide range of occurrence in Europe. They also live in almost the same types of habitat. However, O. ovalis usually exhibits higher abundance and frequency of occurrence. The major aim of the study was to carry out a comparative analysis of the systematic position, morphological and biological differences, as well as habitat preferences and distribution of O. ovalis and O. karawaiewi. The next aim was to ascertain whether the differences in number and frequency of these species may stem from the genetic differences at the molecular level (16S rDNA and COI). The study shows that O. ovalis, which is a more abundant species than O. karawaiewi, turned out to be genetically more polymorphic.


Author(s):  
Kosei Sato ◽  
Daisuke Yamamoto

The main theme of the review is how changes in pheromone biochemistry and the sensory circuits underlying pheromone detection contribute to mate choice and reproductive isolation. The review focuses primarily on gustatory and non-volatile signals in Drosophila. Premating isolation is prevalent among closely related species. In Drosophila, preference for conspecifics against other species in mate choice underlies premating isolation, and such preference relies on contact chemosensory communications between a female and male along with other biological factors. For example, although D. simulans and D. melanogaster are sibling species that yield hybrids, their premating isolation is maintained primarily by the contrasting effects of 7,11-heptacosadiene (7,11-HD), a predominant female pheromone in D. melanogaster, on males of the two species: it attracts D. melanogaster males and repels D. simulans males. The contrasting preference for 7,11-HD in males of these two species is mainly ascribed to opposite effects of 7,11-HD on neural activities in the courtship decision-making neurons in the male brain: 7,11-HD provokes both excitatory and inhibitory inputs in these neurons and differences in the balance between the two counteracting inputs result in the contrasting preference for 7,11-HD, i.e., attraction in D. melanogaster and repulsion in D. simulans. Introduction of two double bonds is a key step in 7,11-HD biosynthesis and is mediated by the desaturase desatF, which is active in D. melanogaster females but transcriptionally inactivated in D. simulans females. Thus, 7,11-HD biosynthesis diversified in females and 7,11-HD perception diversified in males, yet it remains elusive how concordance of the changes in the two sexes was attained in evolution.


2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 499
Author(s):  
Pietro Lo Cascio ◽  
Ignazio Sparacio

<em>Anthaxia</em> (<em>Haplanthaxia</em>) <em>flaviae</em> n. sp. from the Aeolian Islands (Italy, Sicily) belonging to the <em>A</em>. (<em>H</em>.) <em>olympica</em> Kiesenwetter, 1880 species-group is described, illustrated and compared with <em>A</em>. (<em>H</em>.) <em>scutellaris</em> (Gené, 1839), the most closely related species. From this latter, the new species differs mainly for size and body shape, colour pattern of elytrae, shape of antennomera, margin of anterior tibiae and shape of aedeagus. Some zoogeographical considerations concerning the insular distribution of this endemic taxon are briefly discussed.


1976 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 415 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Haegi

A taxonomic account of the genus Datura in Australia is presented. Wild populations of D. stramonium, D. ferox, D, leichhardtii, D, inoxia and D. wrightii occur and D. metel is cultivated and occasionally persistent. A comprehensive revision of the genus has not been attempted, but full descriptions based on a study of herbarium specimens, plants in the field and cultivated material are provided for each of the six species, of which five are naturalized aliens. D. leichhardtii has generally been considered an Australian endemic but the closely related species D. pruinosa (which may be conspecific) occurs in central America. This raises the biogeographical problems of trans-Pacific distribution. Although the application of names is in accordance with current usage, some nomenclatural problems are outlined. A key for the identification of species is presented. The genus Brugmansia, often treated as a section of Datura, is represented in Australia only by species in cultivation.


1967 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 515 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Wolda

The variation in humeral callus pattern in Dacus tryoni is genetic. The more brown there is in the parents, the more there is in the offspring. The possible range of variation in D. tryoni obtained in a selection experiment is from an almost entirely yellow humeral callus to a completely brown one. The variation in Dacus neohumeralis is also genetic. The range of variation seen in D. neohumeralis in a selection experiment is from an entirely brown humeral callus to a very large yellow area. The possible range of variation extends probably to much more yellow. The actual colour forms obtained were different in the two species. For a given length of the yellow area in D. neohumeralis flies this yellow area is narrower, further away from the posterior margin of the humeral callus, further away from the posterodorsal margin and closer to the frontal margin, than it is in D. tryoni. In D. neohumeralis the yellow is dirty greenish yellow while in D. tryoni it is bright yellow. The range of variation in F1 hybrids between the two species is different again. The darker F1 flies closely resemble D. neohumeralis, in fact most F1 flies from these experiments were of this type. The more yellow F1 flies are very like D. tryoni and the ones intermediate between these two are unlike any D. tryoni or D. neohumeralis seen. The range of variation in F2 hybrids is much greater than in either species. In fact it covers the whole range of both species. Over the entire range of variation one finds some flies that look like variants of D. tryoni, some that look like variants of D. neohumeralis, and again some others that look different. At the darker end of the scale, variants resembling D. neohumeralis predominate while it is variants resembling D. tryoni that are most the frequent on the other end of the scale. The flies obtained from the wild could all easily be classified as either D. tryoni or D. neohumeralis variants. It is concluded that the occurrence of intermediates is no evidence for hybridization between the two species taking place in the field. The evidence available from the literature in favour of the hypothesis that the two species do hybridize is discussed and it is shown that this evidence can also easily be explained under the hypothesis that they are completely isolated reproductively. Selection in D. tryoni in the wild apparently favours flies with some dorsal brown and acts against both extremes, an entirely yellow humeral callus on one hand and more brown on the humeral callus on the other. Selection in D. neohumeralis in the wild apparently favours flies with a mottled brown humeral callus and acts against both plain brown and yellow areas. The nature of the selective factors bringing this about is still unknown.


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