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AGE AND MOVEMENT OF A HYBRID ZONE: IMPLICATIONS FOR DISPERSAL DISTANCE IN POCKET GOPHERS AND THEIR CHEWING LICE
Author(s) -
Hafner Mark S.,
Demastes James W.,
Hafner David J.,
Spradling Theresa A.,
Sudman Philip D.,
Nadler Steven A.
Publication year - 1998
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.1558-5646.1998.tb05164.x
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , biology , hybrid zone , ecology , contact zone , zoology , demography , gene flow , history , population , biochemistry , ethnology , sociology , gene , genetic variation
Historical flood records for the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico suggest that a pocket gopher ( Thomomys bottae ) hybrid zone previously thought to be 10,000 years old may actually be closer to 50 years old. Measured zone width (defined genetically) is consistent with the hypothesis of recent contact, if we assume a reasonable dispersal distance of approximately 400 m/year for pocket gophers. A five‐year study of movement of the contact zone between the two species of chewing lice that parasitize these pocket gophers also is consistent with the hypothesis of recent origin of the zone.