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Poison frog color morphs express assortative mate preferences in allopatry but not sympatry
Author(s) -
Yang Yusan,
RichardsZawacki Corinne L.,
Devar Anisha,
Dugas Matthew B.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/evo.13079
Subject(s) - biology , assortative mating , sympatry , reproductive isolation , allopatric speciation , evolutionary biology , sympatric speciation , mate choice , mating preferences , sexual selection , disruptive selection , natural selection , zoology , ecology , mating , selection (genetic algorithm) , population , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science
The concurrent divergence of mating traits and preferences is necessary for the evolution of reproductive isolation via sexual selection, and such coevolution has been demonstrated in diverse lineages. However, the extent to which assortative mate preferences are sufficient to drive reproductive isolation in nature is less clear. Natural contact zones between lineages divergent in traits and preferences provide exceptional opportunities for testing the predicted evolutionary consequences of such divergence. The strawberry poison frog ( Oophaga pumilio ) displays extreme color polymorphism in and around the young Bocas del Toro archipelago. In a transition zone between red and blue allopatric lineages, we asked whether female preferences diverged along with coloration, and whether any divergent preferences persist in a zone of sympatry. When choosing among red, blue and phenotypically intermediate males, females from monomorphic red and monomorphic blue populations both expressed assortative preferences. However, red, blue, and intermediate females from the contact zone all preferred red males, suggesting that divergent preferences may be insufficient to effect behavioral isolation. Our results highlight the complexity of behavioral isolation, and the need for studies that can reveal the circumstances under which divergent preferences do and do not contribute to speciation.