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Reproductive barriers between two sympatric beetle species specialized on different host plants
Author(s) -
XUE H.J.,
MAGALHÃES S.,
LI W.Z.,
YANG X.K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01841.x
Subject(s) - sympatry , sympatric speciation , biology , reproductive isolation , ecological speciation , genetic algorithm , incipient speciation , ecology , evolutionary biology , interspecific competition , host (biology) , zoology , genetic variation , genetics , gene flow , gene , population , demography , sociology
Knowledge on interspecific pre‐ and post‐zygotic isolation mechanisms provides insights into speciation patterns. Using crosses (F 1 and backcrosses) of two closely related flea beetles species, Altica fragariae and A. viridicyanea , specialized on different hosts in sympatry, we measured: (a) the type of reproductive isolation and (b) the inheritance mode of preference and host‐specific performance, using a joint‐scaling test. Each species preferred almost exclusively its host plant, creating strong prezygotic isolation between them, and suggesting that speciation may occur at least partly in sympatry. Reproductive isolation was intrinsic between females of A. fragariae and either A. viridicyanea or F 1 males, whereas the other crosses showed ecologically dependent reproductive isolation, suggesting ecological speciation. The genetic basis of preference and performance was at least partially independent, and several loci coded for preference, which limits the possibility of sympatric speciation. Hence, both ecological and intrinsic factors may contribute to speciation between these species.