Open AccessMating patterns of Darwin's Finch hybrids determined by song and morphology
Author(s) -
Grant Peter R.,
Grant B. Rosemary
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1997.tb01499.x
Subject(s) - biology , hybrid , zoology , mating , mate choice , trait , hybrid zone , population , evolutionary biology , gene flow , genetics , genetic variation , botany , gene , demography , sociology , computer science , programming language
Three species of Darwin's Finches hybridize on the Galapagos island of Daphne Major. We examined mating patterns to determine if hybrids exhibit mate preferences. Geospiza fortis x G. scandens F 1 hybrids backcrossed to both of the parental species, whereas all backcrosses bred with the parental species to which they were most related, or with hybrids. Paternal song was shown to be the crucial factor determining the mating pattern of G. fortis x G. scandens F 1 hybrids and their offspring. Song is culturally inherited, transmitted faithfully from father to son (with few exceptions) as a result of an imprinting‐like process. Size also contributes to the choice of mates. G. fortis x G. scandens F 1 hybrid females paired with large G. scandens ‐like G. fortis males. G. fortis x G. fuliginosa F 1 hybrids paired negatively assortatively with respect to the size of their G. fortis mates. Non‐random mating of hybrids based on song, a non‐generic trait, has interesting evolutionary consequences. Song characteristics and nuclear and mitochondrial genes flow from G. fuliginosa into the G. fortis population, whereas the direction of transfer of genetic and song information between G. fortis and G. scandens depends on which song was sung by the father of the hybrids.