Open AccessGeography, assortative mating, and the effects of sexual selection on speciation with gene flow
Author(s) -
Servedio Maria R.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
evolutionary applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 68
ISSN - 1752-4571
DOI - 10.1111/eva.12296
Subject(s) - assortative mating , genetic algorithm , biology , sympatry , evolutionary biology , reproductive isolation , ecological speciation , sexual selection , disruptive selection , incipient speciation , gene flow , context (archaeology) , mating , sympatric speciation , selection (genetic algorithm) , mating preferences , ecology , mate choice , natural selection , genetics , gene , genetic variation , population , demography , paleontology , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science
Theoretical and empirical research on the evolution of reproductive isolation have both indicated that the effects of sexual selection on speciation with gene flow are quite complex. As part of this special issue on the contributions of women to basic and applied evolutionary biology, I discuss my work on this question in the context of a broader assessment of the patterns of sexual selection that lead to, versus inhibit, the speciation process, as derived from theoretical research. In particular, I focus on how two factors, the geographic context of speciation and the mechanism leading to assortative mating, interact to alter the effect that sexual selection through mate choice has on speciation. I concentrate on two geographic contexts: sympatry and secondary contact between two geographically separated populations that are exchanging migrants and two mechanisms of assortative mating: phenotype matching and separate preferences and traits. I show that both of these factors must be considered for the effects of sexual selection on speciation to be inferred.