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RAPID MOVEMENT OF A HELICONIUS HYBRID ZONE: EVIDENCE FOR PHASE III OF WRIGHT's SHIFTING BALANCE THEORY?
Author(s) -
Blum Michael J.
Publication year - 2002
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/j.0014-3820.2002.tb00125.x
Subject(s) - biology , wright , balance (ability) , hybrid zone , movement (music) , evolutionary biology , neuroscience , physics , computer science , genetics , gene flow , gene , acoustics , programming language , genetic variation
.— It has been proposed that a moving hybrid zone can be a mechanism for the spread of adaptive traits in phase III of Wright's shifting balance model of evolution. Here I present an example of a moving hybrid zone in warningly colored Heliconius butterflies, a system which is considered to be a possible case of shifting balance evolution. Having moved approximately 47 km in 17 years, the hybrid zone shift has led to the H. erato hydara color pattern rapidly displacing the adjacent H. erato petiverana pattern. The movement is potentially due to dominance drive augmenting a slight selective advantage of H. erato hydara over H. erato petiverana , which is largely consistent with theoretical conditions favoring the success of phase III.