z-logo
open-access-imgOpen Access
Genome and cuticular hydrocarbon‐based species delimitation shed light on potential drivers of speciation in a Neotropical ant species complex
Author(s) -
MezaLázaro Rubi N.,
PeñaCarrillo Kenzy I.,
Poteaux Chantal,
Lorenzi Maria Cristina,
Wetterer James K.,
ZaldívarRiverón Alejandro
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.8704
Subject(s) - biology , reproductive isolation , genetic algorithm , species complex , evolutionary biology , heteroplasmy , incipient speciation , taxon , ecology , mitochondrial dna , phylogenetic tree , gene flow , genetics , population , genetic variation , demography , sociology , gene
Geographic separation that leads to the evolution of reproductive isolation between populations generally is considered the most common form of speciation. However, speciation may also occur in the absence of geographic barriers due to phenotypic and genotypic factors such as chemical cue divergence, mating signal divergence, and mitonuclear conflict. Here, we performed an integrative study based on two genome‐wide techniques (3RAD and ultraconserved elements) coupled with cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequence data, to assess the species limits within the Ectatomma ruidum species complex, a widespread and conspicuous group of Neotropical ants for which heteroplasmy (i.e., presence of multiple mtDNA variants in an individual) has been recently discovered in some populations from southeast Mexico. Our analyses indicate the existence of at least five distinct species in this complex: two widely distributed across the Neotropics, and three that are restricted to southeast Mexico and that apparently have high levels of heteroplasmy. We found that species boundaries in the complex did not coincide with geographic barriers. We therefore consider possible roles of alternative drivers that may have promoted the observed patterns of speciation, including mitonuclear incompatibility, CHC differentiation, and colony structure. Our study highlights the importance of simultaneously assessing different sources of evidence to disentangle the species limits of taxa with complicated evolutionary histories.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.
Having issues? You can contact us here