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Tyers AM, Cooke GM, Turner GF. Rare morph Lake Malawi mbuna cichlids benefit from reduced aggression from con- and hetero-specifics. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:1678-1690. [PMID: 34528321 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Balancing selection is important for the maintenance of polymorphism as it can prevent either fixation of one morph through directional selection or genetic drift, or speciation by disruptive selection. Polychromatism, the presence of multiple genetically determined colour phenotypes, can be maintained if the fitness of alternative morphs depends on the relative frequency in a population. In aggressive species, negative frequency-dependent antagonism can prevent an increase in the frequency of rare morphs as they would only benefit from increased fitness while they are rare. Heterospecific aggression is common in nature and has the potential to contribute to rare morph advantage. Here we carry out field observations and laboratory aggression experiments with mbuna cichlids from Lake Malawi, to investigate the role of con- and heterospecific aggression in the maintenance of polychromatism and identify benefits to rare morphs which are likely to result from reduced aggression. We hypothesize that rare morph individuals receive less aggression than common morph individuals and therefore have an ecological advantage. Within species we found that males and females bias aggression towards their own morph, adding to the evidence that inherent own-morph aggression biases can contribute to balancing selection. Over-representation of rare morph territory owners may be influenced by two factors; higher tolerance of different morph individuals as neighbours, and the ability of rare morphs to spend more time feeding. Reduced aggression to rare morph individuals by heterospecifics may also contribute to rare morph advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gavan M Cooke
- School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - George F Turner
- School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
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Scali S, Mangiacotti M, Sacchi R, Coladonato AJ, Falaschi M, Saviano L, Rampoldi MG, Crozi M, Perotti C, Zucca F, Gozzo E, Zuffi MAL. Close encounters of the three morphs: Does color affect aggression in a polymorphic lizard? Aggress Behav 2021; 47:430-438. [PMID: 33682154 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Color polymorphism is genetically controlled, and the process generating and maintaining morphs can affect speciation/extinction rates. Color badges are useful signals in intraspecific communication because they convey information about alternative strategies and can potentially decrease unnecessary conflicts among different color morphs. Competition and aggressive interactions among color morphs can contribute to polymorphism maintenance. This could lead to an uneven spatial distribution of morphs in a population because the local frequency of each morph establishes the intensity of the competition and the fitness of each male. We used a polymorphic lizard, Podarcis muralis, to assess if aggression varies among morphs under two contrasting hypotheses: a heteromorphic versus homomorphic aggression. We used laboratory mirror tests after lizard color manipulation, and we verified the consistency of results with an analysis of the spatial distribution of morphs in a wild population. Both the experiments confirmed that aggression is more common during homomorphic than heteromorphic contests. The adoption of alternative behavioral strategies that minimize risks and costs could facilitate the stable coexistence of the phenotypes and reduce competition. A bias in aggression would advantage rarer morph, which would suffer less harassment by common morphs obtaining a fitness advantage. This process would be negatively-frequency-dependent and would stabilize polymorphism, possibly contributing to sympatric speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Scali
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology Natural History Museum of Milan Milano Italy
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | | | - Mattia Falaschi
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milano Italy
| | - Luca Saviano
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology Natural History Museum of Milan Milano Italy
| | | | - Matteo Crozi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Cesare Perotti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Francesco Zucca
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Elisabetta Gozzo
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology Natural History Museum of Milan Milano Italy
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Castillo Y, Arce E. Female preference for dominant males in the Mexican mojarra cichlid fish, Cichlasoma istlanum. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 98:189-195. [PMID: 32997364 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
It is widely assumed that female preference and male competition operate simultaneously during sexual selection. Dominance is likely an honest indicator of male quality, and females can identify and choose the dominant male to reproduce with individuals with greater competitive abilities, thus improving the quality and competitiveness of their offspring. In this context, few studies have investigated female preference in relation to male fighting ability. The Mexican mojarra, Cichlasoma istlanum, is a cichlid species native to the Balsas River basin. It is territorial during reproduction and provides parental care. Males commonly engage in territorial defence, whereas females care directly for offspring. This study examined whether females prefer dominant males that exhibit more aggressive behaviour. The authors conducted experiments using groups of two males and one female to test competitive ability in males and female preference. They also quantified the time during which the female associated with the dominant male and the subordinate male after observing the outcome of a fight between the two males. They found that Mexican mojarra females preferred dominant males and that the time females spent associating with males was positively related with their aggressive behaviours during competition. These results indicate that dominant males were more attractive than subordinate males to female Mexican mojarra. The relationship between female preference and male dominance in the Mexican mojarra demonstrates the importance of male competitive ability for future parental care in reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuritzi Castillo
- Maestría en Biología Integrativa de la Biodiversidad y la Conservación, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Elsah Arce
- Laboratorio de Acuicultura, Departamento de Hidrobiología, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
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Coladonato AJ, Mangiacotti M, Scali S, Zuffi MAL, Pasquariello C, Matellini C, Buratti S, Battaiola M, Sacchi R. Morph-specific seasonal variation of aggressive behaviour in a polymorphic lizard species. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10268. [PMID: 33240621 PMCID: PMC7682419 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The persistence of colour polymorphism (CP) within a given population is generally associated with the coexistence of alternative reproductive strategies, each one involving specific trade-offs among behavioural, morphological, physiological, and other life histories. Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), is a medium-sized diurnal lizard, showing CP in three main colours (yellow, white, and red) on throat and belly, and a morph-specific pattern for both immunocompetence and seasonal variation of T levels. Yellow males show low stamina with high plasma T levels at the beginning of the season, while white males show high stamina with a higher plasma T levels at the end of the season. We hypothesised the presence of two strategies: a risky one, characterised by high aggressiveness played by yellow-morph, and a conservative one by white morph with low aggressiveness. Thus, we tested the aggressive response to conspecifics of yellow and white morphs using a mirror inserted into their cage, mimicking an intrusion of a stranger in their territories, throughout the breeding season (from April to July, 117 trials). We considered three types of aggressive response, with different levels of aggressiveness: (i) bite against the image reflected in the mirror, (ii) seconds spent by the individuals into the half mirrored cage, and (iii) number of times the lizard entered the half mirrored cage. We also considered the number of tongue flicking as explorative behaviour variable. All lizards were tested after a period of acclimatisation to the captivity conditions. Results demonstrate that yellow males showed a higher aggressive response in the early season and a decrease aggressive response towards the end, whereas white males showed an opposite pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Cristian Matellini
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Simone Buratti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mara Battaiola
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Feller AF, Haesler MP, Peichel CL, Seehausen O. Genetic architecture of a key reproductive isolation trait differs between sympatric and non-sympatric sister species of Lake Victoria cichlids. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200270. [PMID: 32259470 PMCID: PMC7209058 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
One hallmark of the East African cichlid radiations is the rapid evolution of reproductive isolation that is robust to full sympatry of many closely related species. Theory predicts that species persistence and speciation in sympatry with gene flow are facilitated if loci of large effect or physical linkage (or pleiotropy) underlie traits involved in reproductive isolation. Here, we investigate the genetic architecture of a key trait involved in behavioural isolation, male nuptial coloration, by crossing two sister species pairs of Lake Victoria cichlids of the genus Pundamilia and mapping nuptial coloration in the F2 hybrids. One is a young sympatric species pair, representative of an axis of colour motif differentiation, red-dorsum versus blue, that is highly recurrent in closely related sympatric species. The other is a species pair representative of colour motifs, red-chest versus blue, that are common in allopatric but uncommon in sympatric closely related species. We find significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with moderate to large effects (some overlapping) for red and yellow in the sympatric red-dorsum × blue cross, whereas we find no significant QTLs in the non-sympatric red-chest × blue cross. These findings are consistent with theory predicting that large effect loci or linkage/pleiotropy underlying mating trait differentiation could facilitate speciation and species persistence with gene flow in sympatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna F Feller
- Division of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Centre of Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, EAWAG Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Marcel P Haesler
- Division of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Centre of Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, EAWAG Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Catherine L Peichel
- Division of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ole Seehausen
- Division of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Centre of Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, EAWAG Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
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Wright DS, Meijer R, van Eijk R, Vos W, Seehausen O, Maan ME. Geographic variation in opsin expression does not align with opsin genotype in Lake Victoria cichlid populations. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:8676-8689. [PMID: 31410271 PMCID: PMC6686298 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory adaptation to the local environment can contribute to speciation. Aquatic environments are well suited for studying this process: The natural attenuation of light through water results in heterogeneous light environments, to which vision-dependent species must adapt for communication and survival. Here, we study visual adaptation in sympatric Pundamilia cichlids from southeastern Lake Victoria. Species with blue or red male nuptial coloration co-occur at many rocky islands but tend to be depth-differentiated, entailing different visual habitats, more strongly at some islands than others. Divergent visual adaptation to these environments has been implicated as a major factor in the divergence of P. pundamilia and P. nyererei, as they show consistent differentiation in the long-wavelength-sensitive visual pigment gene sequence (LWS opsin). In addition to sequence variation, variation in the opsin gene expression levels may contribute to visual adaptation. We characterized opsin gene expression and LWS genotype across Pundamilia populations inhabiting turbid and clear waters, to examine how different mechanisms of visual tuning contribute to visual adaptation. As predicted, the short-wavelength-sensitive opsin (SWS2b) was expressed exclusively in a population from clear water. Contrary to prediction however, expression levels of the other opsins were species- and island-dependent and did not align with species differences in LWS genotype. Specifically, in two locations with turbid water, the shallow-water dwelling blue species expressed more LWS and less RH2A than the deeper-dwelling red species, while the opposite pattern occurred in the two locations with clear water. Visual modeling suggests that the observed distribution of opsin expression profiles and LWS genotypes does not maximize visual performance, implying the involvement of additional visual tuning mechanisms and/or incomplete adaptation. OPEN RESEARCH BADGE This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally-shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://hdl.handle.net/10411/I1IUUQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Shane Wright
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Roy Meijer
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- University of Applied Sciences van Hall LarensteinLeeuwardenThe Netherlands
| | - Roel van Eijk
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Wicher Vos
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Ole Seehausen
- Institute of Ecology & EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Department Fish Ecology & EvolutionEawag, Center for Ecology, Evolution and BiogeochemistryKastanienbaumSwitzerland
| | - Martine E. Maan
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
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Nandamuri SP, Conte MA, Carleton KL. Multiple trans QTL and one cis-regulatory deletion are associated with the differential expression of cone opsins in African cichlids. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:945. [PMID: 30563463 PMCID: PMC6299527 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5328-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Dissecting the genetic basis of phenotypic diversity is one of the fundamental goals in evolutionary biology. Despite growing evidence for gene expression divergence being responsible for the evolution of complex traits, knowledge about the proximate genetic causes underlying these traits is still limited. African cichlids have diverse visual systems, with different species expressing different combinations of seven cone opsin genes. Using opsin expression variation in African cichlids as a model for gene expression evolution, this study aims to investigate the genetic architecture of opsin expression divergence in this group. Results Results from a genome-wide linkage mapping on the F2 progeny of an intergeneric cross, between two species with differential opsin expression show that opsins in Lake Malawi cichlids are controlled by multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Most of these QTLs are located in trans to the opsins except for one cis-QTL for SWS1 on LG17. A closer look at this major QTL revealed the presence of a 691 bp deletion in the promoter of the SWS1 opsin (located 751 bp upstream of the start site) that is associated with a decrease in its expression. Phylogenetic footprinting indicates that the region spanning the deletion harbors a microRNA miR-729 and a conserved non-coding element (CNE) that also occurs in zebrafish and other teleosts. This suggests that the deletion might contain ancestrally preserved regulators that have been tuned for SWS1 gene expression in Lake Malawi. While this deletion is not common, it does occur in several other species within the lake. Conclusions Differential expression of cichlid opsins is associated with multiple overlapping QTL, with all but one in trans to the opsins they regulate. The one cis-acting factor is a deletion in the promoter of the SWS1 opsin, suggesting that ancestral polymorphic deletions may contribute to cichlid’s visual diversity. In addition to expanding our understanding of the molecular landscape of opsin expression in African cichlids, this study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in natural populations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5328-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sri Pratima Nandamuri
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, 1210 Biology / Psychology Bldg #144, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Matthew A Conte
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, 1210 Biology / Psychology Bldg #144, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Karen L Carleton
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, 1210 Biology / Psychology Bldg #144, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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Brock CD, Rennison D, Veen T, Bolnick DI. Opsin expression predicts male nuptial color in threespine stickleback. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:7094-7102. [PMID: 30073070 PMCID: PMC6065272 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Theoretical models of sexual selection suggest that male courtship signals can evolve through the build-up of genetic correlations between the male signal and female preference. When preference is mediated via increased sensitivity of the signal characteristics, correlations between male signal and perception/sensitivity are expected. When signal expression is limited to males, we would expect to find signal-sensitivity correlations in males. Here, we document such a correlation within a breeding population of threespine stickleback mediated by differences in opsin expression. Males with redder nuptial coloration express more long-wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsin, making them more sensitive to orange and red. This correlation is not an artifact of shared tuning to the optical microhabitat. Such correlations are an essential feature of many models of sexual selection, and our results highlight the potential importance of opsin expression variation as a substrate for signal-preference evolution. Finally, these results suggest a potential sensory mechanism that could drive negative frequency-dependent selection via male-male competition and thus maintain variation in male nuptial color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad D. Brock
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Texas at AustinTexas
- Biodiversity Institute & the Department of BotanyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyoming
| | - Diana Rennison
- Institute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Thor Veen
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Texas at AustinTexas
- Life SciencesQuest UniversitySquamishBCCanada
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Moran RL, Fuller RC. Male-driven reproductive and agonistic character displacement in darters and its implications for speciation in allopatry. Curr Zool 2018; 64:101-113. [PMID: 29492043 PMCID: PMC5809036 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zox069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Selection against hybridization can cause mating traits to diverge between species in sympatry via reproductive character displacement (RCD). Additionally, selection against interspecific fighting can cause aggressive traits to diverge between sympatric species via agonistic character displacement (ACD). By directly affecting conspecific recognition traits, RCD and ACD between species can also incidentally cause divergence in mating and fighting traits among populations within a species [termed cascade RCD (CRCD) and cascade ACD]. Here, we demonstrate patterns consistent with male-driven RCD and ACD in 2 groups of darters (orangethroat darter clade Ceasia and rainbow darter Etheostoma caeruleum). In both groups, males that occur in sympatry (between Ceasia and E. caeruleum) have higher levels of preference for mating and fighting with conspecifics over heterospecifics than do males from allopatry. This is consistent with RCD and ACD. We also found patterns consistent with CRCD and cascade ACD among species of Ceasia. Ceasia males that are sympatric to E. caeruleum (but allopatric to one another) also have heightened preferences for mating and fighting with conspecific versus heterospecific Ceasia. In contrast, Ceasia males that are allopatric to E. caeruleum readily mate and fight with heterospecific Ceasia. We suggest that RCD and ACD between Ceasia and E. caeruleum has incidentally led to divergence in mating and fighting traits among Ceasia species. This study is unique in that male preferences evolve via both RCD (male preference for conspecific females) and ACD (male preference to fight conspecific males) which leads to subsequent divergence among allopatric lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Moran
- School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fuller
- School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
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11
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Lipshutz SE. Interspecific competition, hybridization, and reproductive isolation in secondary contact: missing perspectives on males and females. Curr Zool 2018; 64:75-88. [PMID: 29492041 PMCID: PMC5809030 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zox060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on sexual selection and hybridization has focused on female mate choice and male-male competition. While the evolutionary outcomes of interspecific female preference have been well explored, we are now gaining a better understanding of the processes by which male-male competition between species in secondary contact promotes reproductive isolation versus hybridization. What is relatively unexplored is the interaction between female choice and male competition, as they can oppose one another or align with similar outcomes for reproductive isolation. The role of female-female competition in hybridization is also not well understood, but could operate similarly to male-male competition in polyandrous and other systems where costs to heterospecific mating are low for females. Reproductive competition between either sex of sympatric species can cause the divergence and/or convergence of sexual signals and recognition, which in turn influences the likelihood for interspecific mating. Future work on species interactions in secondary contact should test the relative influences of both mate choice and competition for mates on hybridization outcomes, and should not ignore the possibilities that females can compete over mating resources, and males can exercise mate choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Lipshutz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Division of Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
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Lackey ACR, Martin MD, Tinghitella RM. Male competition and speciation: expanding our framework for speciation by sexual selection. Curr Zool 2018; 64:69-73. [PMID: 29492040 PMCID: PMC5809040 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alycia C R Lackey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Michael D Martin
- Department of Biology, Oxford College of Emory University, Oxford, GA 30054, USA
| | - Robin M Tinghitella
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA
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Tinghitella RM, Lackey ACR, Martin M, Dijkstra PD, Drury JP, Heathcote R, Keagy J, Scordato ESC, Tyers AM. On the role of male competition in speciation: a review and research agenda. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alycia C R Lackey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Watershed Studies Institute, Murray State University, Murray, KY, USA
| | - Michael Martin
- Department of Biology, Oxford College of Emory University, Oxford, GA, USA
| | - Peter D Dijkstra
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
| | - Jonathan P Drury
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Robert Heathcote
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jason Keagy
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Elizabeth S C Scordato
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Alexandra M Tyers
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor, Gwynedd,, Wales, UK
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14
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Mendelson TC, Gumm JM, Martin MD, Ciccotto PJ. Preference for conspecifics evolves earlier in males than females in a sexually dimorphic radiation of fishes. Evolution 2017; 72:337-347. [PMID: 29265367 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Speciation by sexual selection is generally modeled as the coevolution of female preferences and elaborate male ornaments leading to behavioral (sexual) reproductive isolation. One prediction of these models is that female preference for conspecific males should evolve earlier than male preference for conspecific females in sexually dimorphic species with male ornaments. We tested that prediction in darters, a diverse group of freshwater fishes with sexually dimorphic ornamentation. Focusing on the earliest stages of divergence, we tested preference for conspecific mates in males and females of seven closely related species pairs. Contrary to expectation, male preference for conspecific females was significantly greater than female preference for conspecific males. Males in four of the 14 species significantly preferred conspecific females; whereas, females in no species significantly preferred conspecific males. Relationships between the strength of preference for conspecifics and genetic distance revealed no difference in slope between males and females, but a significant difference in intercept, also suggesting that male preference evolves earlier than females'. Our results are consistent with other recent studies in darters and suggest that the coevolution of female preferences and male ornaments may not best explain the earliest stages of behavioral isolation in this lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamra C Mendelson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250
| | - Jennifer M Gumm
- Department of Biological Sciences, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas 75962
| | - Michael D Martin
- Department of Biology, Oxford College of Emory University, Oxford, Georgia 30054
| | - Patrick J Ciccotto
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
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15
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Tinghitella RM, Lehto WR, Lierheimer VF. Color and behavior differently predict competitive outcomes for divergent stickleback color morphs. Curr Zool 2017; 64:115-123. [PMID: 29492044 PMCID: PMC5809037 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zox070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Our knowledge of how male competition contributes to speciation is dominated by investigations of competition between within-species morphs or closely related species that differ in conspicuous traits expressed during the breeding season (e.g. color, song). In such studies, it is important to consider the manner in which putatively sexually selected traits influence the outcome of competitive interactions within and between types because these traits can communicate information about competitor quality and may not be utilized by homotypic and heterotypic receivers in the same way. We studied the roles of breeding color and aggressive behaviors in competition within and between two divergent threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus color types. Our previous work in this system showed that the switch from red to black breeding coloration is associated with changes in male competition biases. Here, we find that red and black males also use different currencies in competition. Winners of both color types performed more aggressive behaviors than losers, regardless of whether the competitor was of the same or opposite color type. But breeding color differently predicted competitive outcomes for red and black males. Males who were redder at the start of competition were more likely to win when paired with homotypic competitors and less likely to win when paired with heterotypic competitors. In contrast, black color, though expressed in the breeding season and condition dependent, was unrelated to competitive outcomes. Placing questions about the role of male competition in speciation in a sexual signal evolution framework may provide insight into the "why and how" of aggression biases and asymmetries in competitive ability between closely related morphs and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin M Tinghitella
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, 2199 S. University Blvd, Denver, CO 80208, USA
| | - Whitley R Lehto
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, 2199 S. University Blvd, Denver, CO 80208, USA
| | - V Faith Lierheimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, 2199 S. University Blvd, Denver, CO 80208, USA
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16
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Servedio MR, Boughman JW. The Role of Sexual Selection in Local Adaptation and Speciation. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2017. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110316-022905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Sexual selection plays several intricate and complex roles in the related processes of local adaptation and speciation. In some cases sexual selection can promote these processes, but in others it can be inhibitory. We present theoretical and empirical evidence supporting these dual effects of sexual selection during local adaptation, allopatric speciation, and speciation with gene flow. Much of the empirical evidence for sexual selection promoting speciation is suggestive rather than conclusive; we present what would constitute strong evidence for sexual selection driving speciation. We conclude that although there is ample evidence that sexual selection contributes to the speciation process, it is very likely to do so only in concert with natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria R. Servedio
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
| | - Janette W. Boughman
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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17
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Lehtonen TK. Parental coordination with respect to color polymorphism in a crater lake fish. Behav Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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18
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Janzen T, Alzate A, Muschick M, Maan ME, van der Plas F, Etienne RS. Community assembly in Lake Tanganyika cichlid fish: quantifying the contributions of both niche-based and neutral processes. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:1057-1067. [PMID: 28303177 PMCID: PMC5306054 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The cichlid family features some of the most spectacular examples of adaptive radiation. Evolutionary studies have highlighted the importance of both trophic adaptation and sexual selection in cichlid speciation. However, it is poorly understood what processes drive the composition and diversity of local cichlid species assemblages on relatively short, ecological timescales. Here, we investigate the relative importance of niche-based and neutral processes in determining the composition and diversity of cichlid communities inhabiting various environmental conditions in the littoral zone of Lake Tanganyika, Zambia. We collected data on cichlid abundance, morphometrics, and local environments. We analyzed relationships between mean trait values, community composition, and environmental variation, and used a recently developed modeling technique (STEPCAM) to estimate the contributions of niche-based and neutral processes to community assembly. Contrary to our expectations, our results show that stochastic processes, and not niche-based processes, were responsible for the majority of cichlid community assembly. We also found that the relative importance of niche-based and neutral processes was constant across environments. However, we found significant relationships between environmental variation, community trait means, and community composition. These relationships were caused by niche-based processes, as they disappeared in simulated, purely neutrally assembled communities. Importantly, these results can potentially reconcile seemingly contrasting findings in the literature about the importance of either niche-based or neutral-based processes in community assembly, as we show that significant trait relationships can already be found in nearly (but not completely) neutrally assembled communities; that is, even a small deviation from neutrality can have major effects on community patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thijs Janzen
- Department of Evolutionary TheoryMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary BiologyPlönGermany
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Adriana Alzate
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Terrestrial Ecology UnitUniversity of GhentGhentBelgium
- Fundacion EcomaresCaliColombia
| | - Moritz Muschick
- Zoological InstituteUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Department of Fish Ecology & EvolutionEAWAG Centre for EcologyKastanienbaumSwitzerland
| | - Martine E. Maan
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Fons van der Plas
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Biodiversity and Climate Research CentreSenckenberg Gesellschaft für NaturforschungFrankfurtGermany
| | - Rampal S. Etienne
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
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19
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Meier JI, Sousa VC, Marques DA, Selz OM, Wagner CE, Excoffier L, Seehausen O. Demographic modelling with whole-genome data reveals parallel origin of similar Pundamilia cichlid species after hybridization. Mol Ecol 2016; 26:123-141. [PMID: 27613570 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Modes and mechanisms of speciation are best studied in young species pairs. In older taxa, it is increasingly difficult to distinguish what happened during speciation from what happened after speciation. Lake Victoria cichlids in the genus Pundamilia encompass a complex of young species and polymorphic populations. One Pundamilia species pair, P. pundamilia and P. nyererei, is particularly well suited to study speciation because sympatric population pairs occur with different levels of phenotypic differentiation and reproductive isolation at different rocky islands within the lake. Genetic distances between allopatric island populations of the same nominal species often exceed those between the sympatric species. It thus remained unresolved whether speciation into P. nyererei and P. pundamilia occurred once, followed by geographical range expansion and interspecific gene flow in local sympatry, or if the species pair arose repeatedly by parallel speciation. Here, we use genomic data and demographic modelling to test these alternative evolutionary scenarios. We demonstrate that gene flow plays a strong role in shaping the observed patterns of genetic similarity, including both gene flow between sympatric species and gene flow between allopatric populations, as well as recent and early gene flow. The best supported model for the origin of P. pundamilia and P. nyererei population pairs at two different islands is one where speciation happened twice, whereby the second speciation event follows shortly after introgression from an allopatric P. nyererei population that arose earlier. Our findings support the hypothesis that very similar species may arise repeatedly, potentially facilitated by introgressed genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana I Meier
- Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.,CMPG, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Center for Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, EAWAG Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Seestrasse 79, CH-6047, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Vitor C Sousa
- CMPG, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - David A Marques
- Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.,CMPG, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Center for Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, EAWAG Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Seestrasse 79, CH-6047, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Oliver M Selz
- Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Center for Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, EAWAG Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Seestrasse 79, CH-6047, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Catherine E Wagner
- Biodiversity Institute & Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Berry Center, 1000 E. University Ave, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Laurent Excoffier
- CMPG, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Ole Seehausen
- Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Center for Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, EAWAG Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Seestrasse 79, CH-6047, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
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20
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Lehtonen TK, Sowersby W, Wong BBM. Heterospecific aggression bias towards a rarer colour morph. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:rspb.2015.1551. [PMID: 26378216 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Colour polymorphisms are a striking example of phenotypic diversity, yet the sources of selection that allow different morphs to persist within populations remain poorly understood. In particular, despite the importance of aggression in mediating social dominance, few studies have considered how heterospecific aggression might contribute to the maintenance or divergence of different colour morphs. To redress this gap, we carried out a field-based study in a Nicaraguan crater lake to investigate patterns of heterospecific aggression directed by the cichlid fish, Hypsophrys nicaraguensis, towards colour polymorphic cichlids in the genus Amphilophus. We found that H. nicaraguensis was the most frequent territorial neighbour of the colour polymorphic A. sagittae. Furthermore, when manipulating territorial intrusions using models, H. nicaraguensis were more aggressive towards the gold than dark colour morph of the sympatric Amphilophus species, including A. sagittae. Such a pattern of heterospecific aggression should be costly to the gold colour morph, potentially accounting for its lower than expected frequency and, more generally, highlighting the importance of considering heterospecific aggression in the context of morph frequencies and coexistence in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Topi K Lehtonen
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku 20014, Finland Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku 20520, Finland
| | - Will Sowersby
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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21
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Bolnick DI, Hendrix K, Jordan LA, Veen T, Brock CD. Intruder colour and light environment jointly determine how nesting male stickleback respond to simulated territorial intrusions. Biol Lett 2016; 12:20160467. [PMID: 27512135 PMCID: PMC5014039 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in male nuptial colour signals might be maintained by negative frequency-dependent selection. This can occur if males are more aggressive towards rivals with locally common colour phenotypes. To test this hypothesis, we introduced red or melanic three-dimensional printed-model males into the territories of nesting male stickleback from two optically distinct lakes with different coloured residents. Red-throated models were attacked more in the population with red males, while melanic models were attacked more in the melanic male lake. Aggression against red versus melanic models also varied across a depth gradient within each lake, implying that the local light environment also modulated the strength of negative frequency dependence acting on male nuptial colour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel I Bolnick
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | | | | | - Thor Veen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Chad D Brock
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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22
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Lehtonen TK, Gagnon K, Sowersby W, Wong BBM. Allopatry, competitor recognition and heterospecific aggression in crater lake cichlids. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:3. [PMID: 26729482 PMCID: PMC4700676 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0569-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aggressive behaviour can have significant evolutionary consequences–not only within species, but also in the context of heterospecific interactions. Here, we carried out an experimental field study to investigate the importance of phenotypic similarity on levels of aggression between species whilst controlling for familiarity effects using manipulated allopatric stimuli. Specifically, we investigated aggressive responses of territory holding males and females in two species of Neotropical cichlid fish, Amphilophus sagittae and Hypsophrys nicaraguensis, that differ in their phenotypic similarity to our allopatric stimulus species, Amphilophus astorquii. Results We found that, independent of phenotypic similarity (and correlated phylogenetic proximity) between the territory holders and intruder, territorial aggression was not adjusted in relation to allopatric intruder colour markings that are associated with different levels of threat and known to provoke different responses in a sympatric setting. We also found that males and females did not differ in their overall patterns of aggression adjustment towards intruder cues. Nevertheless, the two focal species, which share the same breeding grounds and external threats, exhibited different sex roles in breeding territory defence. Conclusion Together with earlier studies assessing hetrospecific aggression in sympatry, our current results highlight the importance of coevolution and learning in species interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Topi K Lehtonen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. .,School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Karine Gagnon
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Will Sowersby
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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23
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Yewers MSC, Pryke S, Stuart-Fox D. Behavioural differences across contexts may indicate morph-specific strategies in the lizard Ctenophorus decresii. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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24
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Keagy J, Lettieri L, Boughman JW. Male competition fitness landscapes predict both forward and reverse speciation. Ecol Lett 2015; 19:71-80. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 08/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Keagy
- Department of Integrative Biology and BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| | - Liliana Lettieri
- Department of Integrative Biology and BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| | - Janette W. Boughman
- Department of Integrative Biology and BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 USA
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25
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Lehtonen TK, Sowersby W, Gagnon K, Wong BBM. Cichlid Fish Use Coloration as a Cue to Assess the Threat Status of Heterospecific Intruders. Am Nat 2015; 186:547-52. [DOI: 10.1086/682711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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26
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Tinghitella RM, Lehto WR, Minter R. The evolutionary loss of a badge of status alters male competition in three-spine stickleback. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/aru242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
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27
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Ding B, Daugherty DW, Husemann M, Chen M, Howe AE, Danley PD. Quantitative Genetic Analyses of Male Color Pattern and Female Mate Choice in a Pair of Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi, East Africa. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114798. [PMID: 25494046 PMCID: PMC4262453 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The traits involved in sexual selection, such as male secondary sexual characteristics and female mate choice, often co-evolve which can promote population differentiation. However, the genetic architecture of these phenotypes can influence their evolvability and thereby affect the divergence of species. The extraordinary diversity of East African cichlid fishes is often attributed to strong sexual selection and thus this system provides an excellent model to test predictions regarding the genetic architecture of sexually selected traits that contribute to reproductive isolation. In particular, theory predicts that rapid speciation is facilitated when male sexual traits and female mating preferences are controlled by a limited number of linked genes. However, few studies have examined the genetic basis of male secondary sexual traits and female mating preferences in cichlids and none have investigated the genetic architecture of both jointly. In this study, we artificially hybridized a pair of behaviorally isolated cichlid fishes from Lake Malawi and quantified both melanistic color pattern and female mate choice. We investigated the genetic architecture of both phenotypes using quantitative genetic analyses. Our results suggest that 1) many non-additively acting genetic factors influence melanistic color patterns, 2) female mate choice may be controlled by a minimum of 1-2 non-additive genetic factors, and 3) F2 female mate choice is not influenced by male courting effort. Furthermore, a joint analysis of color pattern and female mate choice indicates that the genes underlying these two traits are unlikely to be physically linked. These results suggest that reproductive isolation may evolve rapidly owing to the few genetic factors underlying female mate choice. Hence, female mate choice likely played an important role in the unparalleled speciation of East African cichlid fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoqing Ding
- Biology Department, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97388, Waco, Texas, 76798, United States of America
| | - Daniel W. Daugherty
- Biology Department, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97388, Waco, Texas, 76798, United States of America
| | - Martin Husemann
- Biology Department, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97388, Waco, Texas, 76798, United States of America
| | - Ming Chen
- Biology Department, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97388, Waco, Texas, 76798, United States of America
| | - Aimee E. Howe
- Biology Department, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97388, Waco, Texas, 76798, United States of America
| | - Patrick D. Danley
- Biology Department, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97388, Waco, Texas, 76798, United States of America
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28
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Selz OM, Pierotti MER, Maan ME, Schmid C, Seehausen O. Female preference for male color is necessary and sufficient for assortative mating in 2 cichlid sister species. Behav Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/aru024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
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29
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Lehtonen TK. Colour biases in territorial aggression in a Neotropical cichlid fish. Oecologia 2014; 175:85-93. [PMID: 24414236 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2879-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Accepted: 12/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Discrete colour morphs have provided important insights into the evolution of phenotypic diversity. One of the mechanisms that can help to explain coexistence of ecologically similar colour morphs and incipient species is (colour) biased aggression, which has the potential to promote continued existence of the morphs in a frequency-dependent manner. I addressed colour biases in territorial aggression in a field-based study on a Neotropical cichlid fish species, Amphilophus sagittae, which has two ecologically indistinguishable colour morphs that mate assortatively. I found that A. sagittae, in particular females, were more aggressive towards models of their own colour than those mimicking colours of the other morph. Such a behavioural pattern should result in a selection regime that benefits the rarer morph, and hence could help explain how novel, rare phenotypes may avoid competitive exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Topi K Lehtonen
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland,
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30
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Williams TH, Gumm JM, Mendelson TC. Sexual selection acting on a speciation trait in darters (Percidae: Etheostoma). Behav Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/art080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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31
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Lackey ACR, Boughman JW. Divergent sexual selection via male competition: ecology is key. J Evol Biol 2013; 26:1611-24. [PMID: 23859471 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2012] [Revised: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Sexual selection and ecological differences are important drivers of speciation. Much research has focused on female choice, yet the role of male competition in ecological speciation has been understudied. Here, we test how mating habitats impact sexual selection and speciation through male competition. Using limnetic and benthic species of threespine stickleback fish, we find that different mating habitats select differently on male traits through male competition. In mixed habitat with both vegetated and open areas, selection favours two trait combinations of male body size and nuptial colour: large with little colour and small with lots of colour. This matches what we see in reproductively isolated stickleback species, suggesting male competition could promote trait divergence and reproductive isolation. In contrast, when only open habitat exists, selection favours one trait combination, large with lots of colour, which would hinder trait divergence and reproductive isolation. Other behavioural mechanisms in male competition that might promote divergence, such as avoiding aggression with heterospecifics, are insufficient to maintain separate species. This work highlights the importance of mating habitats in male competition for both sexual selection and speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C R Lackey
- Department of Zoology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, BEACON, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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32
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Roy D, Seehausen O, Nosil P. Sexual dimorphism dominates divergent host plant use in stick insect trophic morphology. BMC Evol Biol 2013; 13:135. [PMID: 23819550 PMCID: PMC3707739 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-13-135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clear examples of ecological speciation exist, often involving divergence in trophic morphology. However, substantial variation also exists in how far the ecological speciation process proceeds, potentially linked to the number of ecological axes, traits, or genes subject to divergent selection. In addition, recent studies highlight how differentiation might occur between the sexes, rather than between populations. We examine variation in trophic morphology in two host-plant ecotypes of walking-stick insects (Timema cristinae), known to have diverged in morphological traits related to crypsis and predator avoidance, and to have reached an intermediate point in the ecological speciation process. Here we test how host plant use, sex, and rearing environment affect variation in trophic morphology in this species using traditional multivariate, novel kernel density based and Bayesian morphometric analyses. RESULTS Contrary to expectations, we find limited host-associated divergence in mandible shape. Instead, the main predictor of shape variation is sex, with secondary roles of population of origin and rearing environment. CONCLUSION Our results show that trophic morphology does not strongly contribute to host-adapted ecotype divergence in T. cristinae and that traits can respond to complex selection regimes by diverging along different intraspecific lines, thereby impeding progress toward speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Roy
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.
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33
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34
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Maan ME, Sefc KM. Colour variation in cichlid fish: developmental mechanisms, selective pressures and evolutionary consequences. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2013; 24:516-28. [PMID: 23665150 PMCID: PMC3778878 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2013.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2012] [Revised: 04/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cichlid fishes constitute one of the most species-rich families of vertebrates. In addition to complex social behaviour and morphological versatility, they are characterised by extensive diversity in colouration, both within and between species. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying colour variation in this group and the selective pressures responsible for the observed variation. We specifically address the evidence for the hypothesis that divergence in colouration is associated with the evolution of reproductive isolation between lineages. While we conclude that cichlid colours are excellent models for understanding the role of animal communication in species divergence, we also identify taxonomic and methodological biases in the current research effort. We suggest that the integration of genomic approaches with ecological and behavioural studies, across the entire cichlid family and beyond it, will contribute to the utility of the cichlid model system for understanding the evolution of biological diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine E. Maan
- University of Groningen, Behavioural Biology, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kristina M. Sefc
- Institute of Zoology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, A-8010 Graz, Austria
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35
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Rudh A, Breed MF, Qvarnström A. Does aggression and explorative behaviour decrease with lost warning coloration? Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.02006.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Rudh
- Department of Animal Ecology; Evolutionary Biology Centre; Uppsala University; Norbyvägen 18D; 75236; Uppsala; Sweden
| | | | - Anna Qvarnström
- Department of Animal Ecology; Evolutionary Biology Centre; Uppsala University; Norbyvägen 18D; 75236; Uppsala; Sweden
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36
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Theis A, Salzburger W, Egger B. The function of anal fin egg-spots in the cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. PLoS One 2012; 7:e29878. [PMID: 22242184 PMCID: PMC3252332 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 12/06/2011] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Color and pigmentation patterns of animals are often targets of sexual selection because of their role in communication. Although conspicuous male traits are typically implicated with intersexual selection, there are examples where sex-specific displays play a role in an intrasexual context, e.g. when they serve as signals for aggression level and/or status. Here, we focus on the function of a conspicuous male ornament in the most species-rich tribe of cichlid fishes, the haplochromines. A characteristic feature of these ca. 1500 species are so-called egg-spots in form of ovoid markings on the anal fins of males, which are made up of carotenoid based pigment cells. It has long been assumed that these yellow, orange or reddish egg-spots play an important role in the courtship and spawning behavior of these maternal mouth-brooding fishes by mimicking the eggs of a conspecific female. The exact function of egg-spots remains unknown, however, and there are several hypotheses about their mode of action. To uncover the function of this cichlid-specific male ornament, we used female mate choice experiments and a male aggression test in the haplochromine species Astatotilapia burtoni. We manipulated the number and arrangement of egg-spots on the anal fins of males, or removed them entirely, and tested (1) female preference with visual contact only using egg-traps, (2) female preference with free contact using paternity testing with microsatellites and (3) male aggression. We found that females did not prefer males with many egg-spots over males with fewer egg-spots and that females tended to prefer males without egg-spots over males with egg-spots. Importantly, males without egg-spots sired clutches with the same fertilization rate as males with egg-spots. In male aggression trials, however, males with fewer egg-spots received significantly more attacks, suggesting that egg-spots are an important signal in intrasexual communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anya Theis
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Walter Salzburger
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (WS); (BE)
| | - Bernd Egger
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (WS); (BE)
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37
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Dijkstra PD, Groothuis TGG. Male-male competition as a force in evolutionary diversification: evidence in haplochromine cichlid fish. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 2011; 2011:689254. [PMID: 21785710 PMCID: PMC3139127 DOI: 10.4061/2011/689254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2010] [Revised: 04/02/2011] [Accepted: 05/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested that intrasexual competition can be a source of negative frequency-dependent selection, causing agonistic character displacement and facilitating speciation and coexistence of (sibling) species. In this paper we synthesise the evidence that male-male and female-female competition contributes to cichlid diversification, showing that competition is stronger among same-coloured individuals than those with different colours. We argue that intrasexual selection is more complex because there are several examples where males do not bias aggression towards their own type. In addition, sibling species or colour morphs often show asymmetric dominance relationships. We briefly discuss potential mechanisms that might promote the maintenance of covariance between colour and aggression-related traits even in the face of gene-flow. We close by proposing several avenues for future studies that might shed more light on the role of intrasexual competition in cichlid diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Dijkstra
- Behavioural Biology Research Group, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
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38
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Odhiambo EA, Kerschbaumer M, Postl L, Sturmbauer C. Morphometric differentiation among haplochromine cichlid fish species of a satellite lake of Lake Victoria. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2011.00624.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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39
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KOBLMÜLLER STEPHAN, SALZBURGER WALTER, OBERMÜLLER BEATE, EIGNER EVA, STURMBAUER CHRISTIAN, SEFC KRISTINAM. Separated by sand, fused by dropping water: habitat barriers and fluctuating water levels steer the evolution of rock-dwelling cichlid populations in Lake Tanganyika. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:2272-90. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05088.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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40
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Svensson O, Egger B, Gricar B, Woodhouse K, van Oosterhout C, Salzburger W, Seehausen O, Turner GF. Segregation of species-specific male attractiveness in f(2) hybrid lake Malawi cichlid fish. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 2011; 2011:426179. [PMID: 21716739 PMCID: PMC3119475 DOI: 10.4061/2011/426179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2010] [Accepted: 02/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Among the huge radiations of haplochromine cichlid fish in Lakes Malawi and Victoria, closely related species are often reproductively isolated via female mate choice although viable fertile hybrids can be produced when females are confined only with heterospecific males. We generated F2 hybrid males from a cross between a pair of closely related sympatric cichlid fish from Lake Malawi. Laboratory mate choice experiments using microsatellite paternity analysis demonstrated that F2 hybrid males differed significantly in their attractiveness to females of the two parental species, indicating heritable variation in traits involved in mate choice that may contribute to reproductive isolation between these species. We found no significant correlation between male mating success and any measurement of male colour pattern. A simple quantitative genetic model of reproductive isolation suggests that there may be as few as two chromosomal regions controlling species-specific attractiveness. We propose that adaptive radiation of Lake Malawi cichlids could be facilitated by the presence of genes with major effects on mate choice and reproductive isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Svensson
- Evolutionary Biology Group, Biological Sciences, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK
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41
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Kuitunen K, Kotiaho JS, Luojumäki M, Suhonen J. Selection on size and secondary sexual characters of the damselfly Calopteryx splendens when sympatric with the congener Calopteryx virgo. CAN J ZOOL 2011. [DOI: 10.1139/z10-090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Male mating success is often determined by body size or secondary sexual characters because of female mate choice or competition for females. In addition to intraspecific interactions, interspecific interactions may interfere with intraspecific selection. In this study, we investigated sexual selection on size and sexual characters of male banded demoiselle ( Calopteryx splendens (Harris, 1780)) in wild populations sympatric with the beautiful demoiselle ( Calopteryx virgo (L., 1758)). As secondary sexual characters, male C. splendens have pigmented wing spots whose size appears to be under positive selection. Male C. virgo resemble male C. splendens that have the largest wing spots, leading to interspecific male–male aggression and possibly also to heterospecific matings via mistaken species recognition. If interspecific interactions interfere with intraspecific sexual selection on wing-spot size of C. splendens, their effects should increase with the increasing relative abundance of C. virgo. Our results did not show the expected positive selection on wing-spot size in C. splendens, suggesting that interspecific interactions might interfere with sexual selection. Also, we observed no relationship between the strength of interspecific sexual selection and the relative abundance of C. virgo. However, there was a positive intraspecific density-dependent sexual selection for larger size. Although the present results are tentative, we suggest that interspecific interactions should be considered along with intraspecific selection when studies of sexual selection are performed in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Kuitunen
- Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Natural History Museum, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Janne S. Kotiaho
- Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Natural History Museum, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Mari Luojumäki
- Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Natural History Museum, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Jukka Suhonen
- Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Natural History Museum, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
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42
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Hancox D, Hoskin CJ, Wilson RS. Evening up the score: sexual selection favours both alternatives in the colour-polymorphic ornate rainbowfish. Anim Behav 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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43
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Williams TH, Mendelson TC. Behavioral Isolation Based on Visual Signals in a Sympatric Pair of Darter Species. Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01816.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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44
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FULLER REBECCAC, JOHNSON ASHLEYM. A test for negative frequency-dependent mating success as a function of male colour pattern in the bluefin killifish. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2009.01308.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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45
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Dijkstra PD, van Dijk S, Groothuis TG, Pierotti ME, Seehausen O. Behavioral dominance between female color morphs of a Lake Victoria cichlid fish. Behav Ecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arp036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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46
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YOUNG KA, WHITMAN JM, TURNER GF. Secondary contact during adaptive radiation: a community matrix for Lake Malawi cichlids. J Evol Biol 2009; 22:882-9. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01688.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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47
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Verzijden MN, Zwinkels J, ten Cate C. Cross-fostering Does Not Influence the Mate Preferences and Territorial Behaviour of Males in Lake Victoria Cichlids. Ethology 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2008.01582.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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48
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Dijkstra PD, Hemelrijk C, Seehausen O, Groothuis TG. Color polymorphism and intrasexual competition in assemblages of cichlid fish. Behav Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arn125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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49
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van der Sluijs I, Van Dooren TJM, Hofker KD, van Alphen JJM, Stelkens RB, Seehausen O. Female mating preference functions predict sexual selection against hybrids between sibling species of cichlid fish. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2008; 363:2871-7. [PMID: 18508752 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2008.0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary outcome of interspecific hybridization, i.e. collapse of species into a hybrid swarm, persistence or even divergence with reinforcement, depends on the balance between gene flow and selection against hybrids. If female mating preferences are open-ended but sign-inversed between species, they can theoretically be a source of such selection. Cichlid fish in African lakes have sustained high rates of speciation despite evidence for widespread hybridization, and sexual selection by female choice has been proposed as important in the origin and maintenance of species boundaries. However, it had never been tested whether hybridizing species have open-ended preference rules. Here we report the first experimental test using Pundamilia pundamilia, Pundamilia nyererei and their hybrids in three-way choice experiments. Hybrid males are phenotypically intermediate. Wild-caught females of both species have strong preferences for conspecific over heterospecific males. Their responses to F1 hybrid males are intermediate, but more similar to responses to conspecifics in one species and more similar to responses to heterospecifics in the other. We suggest that their mate choice mechanism may predispose haplochromine cichlids to maintain and perhaps undergo phenotypic diversification despite hybridization, and that species differences in female preference functions may predict the potential for adaptive trait transfer between hybridizing species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inke van der Sluijs
- Department of Animal Ecology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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50
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Stelkens RB, Pierotti MER, Joyce DA, Smith AM, van der Sluijs I, Seehausen O. Disruptive sexual selection on male nuptial coloration in an experimental hybrid population of cichlid fish. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2008; 363:2861-70. [PMID: 18522918 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2008.0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Theory suggests that genetic polymorphisms in female mating preferences may cause disruptive selection on male traits, facilitating phenotypic differentiation despite gene flow, as in reinforcement or other models of speciation with gene flow. Very little experimental data have been published to test the assumptions regarding the genetics of mate choice that such theory relies on. We generated a population segregating for female mating preferences and male colour dissociated from other species differences by breeding hybrids between species of the cichlid fish genus Pundamilia. We measured male mating success as a function of male colour. First, we demonstrate that non-hybrid females of both species use male nuptial coloration for choosing mates, but with inversed preferences. Second, we show that variation in female mating preferences in an F2 hybrid population generates a quadratic fitness function for male coloration suggestive of disruptive selection: intermediate males obtained fewer matings than males at either extreme of the colour range. If the genetics of female mate choice in Pundamilia are representative for those in other species of Lake Victoria cichlid fish, it may help explain the origin and maintenance of phenotypic diversity despite some gene flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rike B Stelkens
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Macroevolution, Institute of Zoology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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