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- Title
Asymmetries in premating isolating mechanisms in a sympatric species flock of pupfish (Cyprinodon).
- Authors
Kodric-Brown, Astrid; West, Rhiannon J.D.
- Abstract
How new species arise in the absence of geographic barriers is still poorly understood. Females of two species of pupfish, a specialist scale-eater and a generalist detritivore, coexist in lakes on San Salvador Island, The Bahamas. They recognize males of their own species by visual cues. Female preferences are stronger in the less abundant scale-eater than in the more abundant detritivore, indicating the importance of frequency-dependent selection in the evolution of behavioral mating barriers.We examine cues used in assortative mating in a sympatric species flock of pupfishes (Cyprinodon) from San Salvador Island, The Bahamas. The species are morphologically, genetically, and ecologically distinct. We focus on 2 species, a generalist detritivore and a predator/scale-eater. Experiments show that premating isolation is based primarily on visual cues and is asymmetrical. It is well developed in the less abundant scale-eater but is much less well developed in the more abundant detritivore. Responses of detritivore females from 3 lakes to conspecific and scale-eater males suggest that abundance of the predator also affects development of premating isolating mechanisms in the prey species. These results highlight the importance of frequency-dependent selection and predators in the evolution of premating isolating mechanisms.
- Subjects
CYPRINODON; CYPRINODONTIDAE; ANIMAL sexual behavior; ANIMAL behavior; PREDATORY animals
- Publication
Behavioral Ecology, 2014, Vol 25, Issue 1, p69
- ISSN
1045-2249
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/beheco/art087