Open AccessTransgressive segregation in a behavioural trait? Explorative strategies in two house mouse subspecies and their hybrids
Author(s) -
Hiadlovská Zuzana,
Vošlajerová Bímová Barbora,
Mikula OndŘej,
Piálek Jaroslav,
Macholán Miloš
Publication year - 2013
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.1095-8312.2012.01997.x
Subject(s) - biology , subspecies , house mouse , house mice , biological dispersal , hybrid , trait , transgressive , zoology , hybrid zone , evolutionary biology , inbred strain , selection (genetic algorithm) , genetics , gene flow , genetic variation , population , demography , gene , sedimentary depositional environment , paleontology , botany , structural basin , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , programming language
Hybrid zones between genetically diverged populations are widespread among animals and plants. Their dynamics usually depend on selection against admixture and dispersal of parental forms in the zone. Although indirect estimates of selection have been the target of many studies, dispersal has been neglected. In this study we carried out open field experiments to test whether males of two house mouse subspecies, Mus musculus musculus and Mus musculus domesticus , differ in their propensity to disperse and in their character of exploration. We tested wild‐caught males and males of two wild‐derived inbred strains. In addition, we examined reciprocal F 1 crosses to test the prediction that these hybrids display intermediate behaviours. We revealed that M. m. musculus males were less hesitant to enter the experimental arena than were M. m. domesticus males, but once inside the arena their movements were more timid. F 1 males differed from both parental strains, with longer latencies to enter the arena, but explored the arena in a similar fashion as the M. m. domesticus males, thus displaying transgressive behavioural phenotypes. These results contribute to our knowledge of behavioural divergence between the mouse subspecies, and add a new facet to the study of speciation. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2012, ●●, ●●–●●.