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Hybrid zones and the speciation continuum in H eliconius butterflies
Author(s) -
Mallet James,
Dasmahapatra Kanchon K.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/mec.12058
Subject(s) - biology , sympatric speciation , hybrid zone , müllerian mimicry , mimicry , ecological speciation , hybrid , heliconius , assortative mating , genetic algorithm , sympatry , evolutionary biology , ecology , incipient speciation , range (aeronautics) , genetic divergence , aposematism , predation , gene flow , mating , genetic variation , population , genetic diversity , genetics , botany , gene , materials science , composite material , predator , sociology , demography
Tropical butterflies in the genus H eliconius have long been models in the study of the stages of speciation. H eliconius are unpalatable to predators, and many species are notable for multiple geographic populations with striking warning colour pattern differences associated with M üllerian mimicry. A speciation continuum is evident in Heliconius hybrid zones. Examples range from hybrid zones across which (a) there is little genetic differentiation other than at mimicry loci, but where hybrids are common, (b) to ‘bimodal‘ hybrid zones with strong genetic divergence and few hybrids, (c) through to ‘good’ sympatric species, with hybridization extremely rare or absent. Now, in this issue of Molecular Ecology , Arias et al . ([Arias CF, 2012]) have found an intermediate case in C olombian H eliconius cydno showing evidence for assortative mating and molecular differences, but where hybrids are abundant.