Faculty Opinions recommendation of Rapid experimental evolution of reproductive isolation from a single natural population.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Benkman
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Natural Population ◽  
Experimental Evolution

scholarly journals Rapid experimental evolution of reproductive isolation from a single natural population

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (27) ◽  
pp. 13440-13445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M. Villa ◽  
Juan C. Altuna ◽  
James S. Ruff ◽  
Andrew B. Beach ◽  
Lane I. Mulvey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Natural Population ◽  
Experimental Evolution ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Ecological Speciation ◽  
Phenotypic Trait ◽  
Divergent Natural Selection ◽  
Feather Lice

Ecological speciation occurs when local adaptation generates reproductive isolation as a by-product of natural selection. Although ecological speciation is a fundamental source of diversification, the mechanistic link between natural selection and reproductive isolation remains poorly understood, especially in natural populations. Here, we show that experimental evolution of parasite body size over 4 y (approximately 60 generations) leads to reproductive isolation in natural populations of feather lice on birds. When lice are transferred to pigeons of different sizes, they rapidly evolve differences in body size that are correlated with host size. These differences in size trigger mechanical mating isolation between lice that are locally adapted to the different sized hosts. Size differences among lice also influence the outcome of competition between males for access to females. Thus, body size directly mediates reproductive isolation through its influence on both intersexual compatibility and intrasexual competition. Our results confirm that divergent natural selection acting on a single phenotypic trait can cause reproductive isolation to emerge from a single natural population in real time.

scholarly journals Experimental evolution of reproductive isolation from a single natural population

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M. Villa ◽  
Juan C. Altuna ◽  
James S. Ruff ◽  
Andrew B. Beach ◽  
Lane I. Mulvey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Natural Population ◽  
Experimental Evolution ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Ecological Speciation ◽  
Phenotypic Trait ◽  
Sexual Competition ◽  
Feather Lice

Ecological speciation occurs when local adaptation generates reproductive isolation as a by-product of natural selection1–3. Although ecological speciation is a fundamental source of diversification, the mechanistic link between natural selection and reproductive isolation remains poorly understood, especially in natural populations2–6. Here we show that experimental evolution of parasite body size over four years (ca. 60 generations) leads to reproductive isolation in natural populations of feather lice on birds. When lice are transferred to pigeons of different sizes they rapidly evolve differences in body size that are correlated with host size. These size differences trigger mechanical mating isolation between lice that are locally adapted to the different sized hosts. Size differences among lice also influence the outcome of competition between males for access to females. Thus, body size directly mediates reproductive isolation through its influence on both inter-sexual compatibility and intra-sexual competition. Our results confirm that divergent natural selection acting on a single phenotypic trait can cause reproductive isolation to emerge from a single natural population in real time.

scholarly journals Sexual conflict and reproductive isolation in flies

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 697-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J. Hosken ◽  
O.Y. Martin ◽  
S. Wigby ◽  
T. Chapman ◽  
D.J. Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Sexual Conflict ◽  
Experimental Evolution ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Isolation Index

Sexual conflict is predicted to generate more rapid reproductive isolation between larger populations. While there is some empirical support for this, the data are inconsistent and, additionally, there has been criticism of some of the evidence. Here we reanalyse two experimental-evolution datasets using an isolation index widely applied in the speciation literature. We find evidence for reproductive isolation through sexual conflict in Sepsis cynipsea , but not in Drosophila melanogaster , and this occurred to a greater degree in larger populations, which is consistent with previous findings.

scholarly journals Correlated evolution of male and female reproductive traits drive a cascading effect of reinforcement in Drosophila yakuba

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1835) ◽  
pp. 20160730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron A. Comeault ◽  
Aarti Venkat ◽  
Daniel R. Matute
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Hybrid Zone ◽  
Experimental Evolution ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Sympatric Populations ◽  
Cascading Effect ◽  
Allopatric Populations ◽  
Female Reproductive Traits ◽  
Drosophila Yakuba

Selection against maladaptive hybridization can drive the evolution of reproductive isolation in a process called reinforcement. While the importance of reinforcement in evolution has been historically debated, many examples now exist. Despite these examples, we typically lack a detailed understanding of the mechanisms limiting the spread of reinforced phenotypes throughout a species' range. Here we address this issue in the fruit fly Drosophila yakuba , a species that hybridizes with its sister species D. santomea and is undergoing reinforcement in a well-defined hybrid zone on the island of São Tomé. Within this region, female D. yakuba show increased postmating-prezygotic (gametic) isolation towards D. santomea when compared with females from allopatric populations. We use a combination of natural collections, fertility assays, and experimental evolution to understand why reinforced gametic isolation in D. yakuba is confined to this hybrid zone. We show that, among other traits, D. yakuba males from sympatric populations sire fewer progeny than allopatric males when mated to allopatric D. yakuba females. Our results provide a novel example of reinforcement acting on a postmating-prezygotic trait in males, resulting in a cascade of reproductive isolation among conspecific populations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document