Article
Evolutionary Biology
Kate L. Ostevik, Joanna L. Rifkin, Hanhan Xia, Mark D. Rausher
Summary: Hybridization between two different morning glory species can affect the strength of reproductive barriers, with asymmetric effects on barrier strength and potential changes to within-species compatibility. The study found that changes in compatibility between sympatric populations of the morning glory species may be due to introgression of alleles from one species into the other. This suggests that hybridization can influence not only isolation between species, but also contribute to isolation within a species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Francisco Javier Jimenez-Lopez, Montserrat Arista, Maria Talavera, Leonor Patricia Cerdeira Morellato, John R. Pannell, Juan Viruel, Pedro L. Ortiz Ballesteros
Summary: The genetic divergence between species depends on reproductive isolation (RI) caused by traits reducing interspecific mating (prezygotic isolation) or reduced hybrid fitness (postzygotic isolation). Prezygotic barriers were found to be generally stronger than postzygotic barriers, but previous studies mostly examined F-1 hybrid fitness in early life cycle stages. This study combined field and experimental data to assess the strength of 17 prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive barriers between co-occurring Lysimachia species. The results showed near complete RI between the two species, with prezygotic barriers contributing more in reducing gene flow in allopatry, while their contributions were more similar in sympatry. The strength of postzygotic RI was underestimated when effects on late stages of the life cycle were disregarded.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miaomiao Ju, Jia Yang, Ming Yue, Guifang Zhao
Summary: This study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of sympatry and parapatry in related species. The research found that geological movements and climatic turbulence caused the rapid radiated differentiation of the species, and similar selective pressures resulted in the same evolutionary pattern based on demographic history analysis. The study provides new experimental evidence of the formation patterns of parallel speciation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Inna Osmolovsky, Mariana Shifrin, Inbal Gamliel, Jonathan Belmaker, Yuval Sapir
Summary: The continuous process of speciation results in different species at different stages of reproductive isolation. Studying the royal irises, a young group of species in the process of speciation, provides insight into the early steps of speciation. Pre-pollination barriers, such as eco-geographic divergence and phenological differentiation, were found to be the major contributors to reproductive isolation among the Iris species. Post-pollination barriers had negligible contributions to reproductive isolation. The study suggests that pre-zygotic barriers play a crucial role in speciation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Polina Drozdova, Alexandra Saranchina, Ekaterina Madyarova, Anton Gurkov, Maxim Timofeyev
Summary: Ancient Lake Baikal is a speciation hotspot and the gammaroid amphipods are the most diverse group in the lake. Recent research has shown that one common species, Eulimnogammarus verrucosus, actually consists of at least three cryptic species. By analyzing the phylogeny, genome sizes, and reproductive compatibility, this study confirms the genetic separation between these species and highlights the need for precise tracking of sample origin in future studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Alex Van Huynh, Amber M. Rice
Summary: Preferences for mating cues, including odor signals, can impact speciation and reproductive isolation in natural hybrid zones. Hybrid individuals show varying preferences for parental species cues, with male hybrids showing overall no preference and female hybrids showing a preference for black-capped chickadee odor dependent on their black-capped ancestry. These preferences may play a role in reproductive isolation and the movement of hybrid zones.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Linyi Zhang, Glen R. Hood, Isaac Carroo, James R. Ott, Scott P. Egan
Summary: Divergent selection between alternative environments plays a crucial role in reproductive isolation, but the importance of within-environment variation in differentiation between lineages has been overlooked. This study revealed weak hybrid inviability between host-associated lineages of B. treatae despite strong genomic differentiation, with great variation in hybrid fitness observed on individual trees. Considering the environmental context of hybridization is essential for predicting divergence under variable selection.
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Devon A. DeRaad, Emily E. Applewhite, Whitney L. E. Tsai, Ryan S. Terrill, Sarah E. Kingston, Michael J. Braun, John E. McCormack
Summary: The study reassessed the gradient between Collared Towhee and Spotted Towhee in Central Mexico and found that the genetic and phenotypic traits of the cline centers have not shifted over 70 years, indicating the secondary contact between these species likely dates to the Pleistocene. The towhee system offers insights into the potential outcomes of hybridization across a dynamic landscape, including the formation of incipient hybrid lineages and novel genomic and phenotypic combinations.
Article
Horticulture
Jingli Gao, Wenjing Cai, Wenxi Li, Yang Zheng, Xiaoying Bi
Summary: The study on the allopatric sister species Iris dichotoma and I. domestica shows that besides geographical isolation, they don't have other prezygotic isolating mechanisms. Their daily flowering times are significantly different but overlap for 2.6 hours, during which they have good cross compatibility. They have common legitimate pollinators, but the visiting time doesn't overlap, and I. domestica's pollen quantity is depleted before I. dichotoma opens. Therefore, temporal isolation causes complete reproductive isolation, and flower structure difference also plays an important role in reproductive isolation.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jennifer Walsh, Shawn M. Billerman, Bronwyn G. Butcher, Vanya G. Rohwer, David P. L. Toews, Vicens Vila-Coury, Irby J. Lovette
Summary: Genome-wide analyses of admixture between two closely related North American oriole species reveal longstanding barriers to reproductive isolation. This study provides insights into the mechanisms that facilitate and inhibit speciation using a hybrid zone between the Baltimore and Bullock's orioles. The findings highlight the complex interactions between pre- and post-mating barriers and the rapid accumulation of barriers between these species.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Yukie Sato, Satoshi Fujiwara, Martijn Egas, Tomoko Matsuda, Tetsuo Gotoh
Summary: This study confirmed the prevalent view on the evolution of reproductive barriers in haplodiploid spider mites and found variations and asymmetries in the degree of reproductive isolation, emphasizing the importance of reinforcement of prezygotic reproductive isolation through incompatibility and the role of cytonuclear interactions for reproductive isolation in haplodiploid spider mites.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jordan B. Bemmels, Ashley C. Bramwell, Sean A. S. Anderson, Vanessa E. Luzuriaga-Aveiga, Else K. Mikkelsen, Jason T. Weir
Summary: The study found that a period of contact and elevated hybridization between sympatric eastern North American populations of two cryptic bird species preceded a major increase in reproductive isolation between these populations within the last 10,000 years. The increased reproductive isolation in the sympatric eastern region was not accompanied by character displacement in key morphometric traits, plumage coloration, or ecological traits.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Quiterie Haenel, Krista B. Oke, Telma G. Laurentino, Andrew P. Hendry, Daniel Berner
Summary: This study investigates how ecological divergence leads to strong reproductive isolation between populations in close geographic contact, using whole-genome sequencing of stickleback fish populations adapted to neighboring lake and stream habitats. The findings highlight the efficacy of polygenic selection in maintaining reproductive isolation without physical isolation, emphasizing the importance of studying speciation at fine eco-geographic and genomic scales.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Donglei Wang, Yongshuai Sun, Weixiao Lei, Hui Zhu, Ji Wang, Hao Bi, Shuo Feng, Jianquan Liu, Dafu Ru
Summary: Using population transcriptome data, this study identified repeated homoploid hybrid speciation events in the conifer Picea brachytyla, with the southern lineage placed within the re-circumscribed P. likiangensis species complex (PLSC) and P. brachytyla sensu stricto (s.s.) consisting solely of the northern lineage. Phylogenetic and coalescent analyses revealed that P. brachytyla s.s. arose from hybridization with an intermediate lineage between the ancestor of the PLSC and P. wilsonii, followed by backcrossing to the ancestral PLSC. Additionally, P. brachytyla s.s. and P. purpurea share the same parents and an extinct hybrid lineage, but backcrossing to different parents resulted in the formation of two different hybrid species. These findings highlight the complexity of homoploid hybrid events and reticulate evolution in the spruce genus.
Article
Ecology
Robin Hopkins
Summary: Pollinator behavior plays a crucial role in plant speciation, but the mechanisms behind this process are still not well understood. This study presents a model that examines how the relative frequencies of plants and pollinators in a community influence ethological reproductive isolation. The model suggests that both pollinator constancy and preference contribute to reproductive isolation, with pollinators showing stronger preference having a larger impact. The study provides new insights into the role of pollinator specialization in reproductive isolation and how it can be influenced by changing biological communities.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katharine L. Korunes, Mohamed A. F. Noor
Article
Ecology
Briana E. Mittleman, Brenda Manzano-Winkler, Julianne B. Hall, Katharine L. Korunes, Mohamed A. F. Noor
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2017)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Mohamed A. F. Noor
Review
Ecology
M. Ravinet, R. Faria, R. K. Butlin, J. Galindo, N. Bierne, M. Rafajlovic, M. A. F. Noor, B. Mehlig, A. M. Westram
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Thiago G. Lima, Christopher S. Willett
JOURNAL OF HEREDITY
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher S. Willett, Elizabeth M. Wilson
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
(2018)
Editorial Material
Genetics & Heredity
Mallory A. Ballinger, Mohamed A. F. Noor
TRENDS IN GENETICS
(2018)
Article
Ecology
Felipe S. Barreto, Eric T. Watson, Thiago G. Lima, Christopher S. Willett, Suzanne Edmands, Weizhong Li, Ronald S. Burton
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katharine L. Korunes, Mohamed A. F. Noor
Article
Ecology
Thiago G. Lima, Ronald S. Burton, Christopher S. Willett
Article
Biology
Meggan A. Alston, Jeeyun Lee, M. Elizabeth Moore, Joel G. Kingsolver, Christopher S. Willett
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kieran Samuk, Brenda Manzano-Winkler, Kathryn R. Ritz, Mohamed A. F. Noor
Article
Physiology
Jeeyun Lee, Marshall C. Phillips, Monica Lobo, Christopher S. Willett
Summary: The study found that acute low salinity conditions caused more deaths in Tigriopus californicus populations than high salinity; molecular processes increasing proline levels were significantly elevated at 7ppt salinity, contrary to other physiological studies; tolerance to salinity fluctuation was not determined by latitude but influenced by a complex interplay of factors including population and duration of salinity stress.
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jeeyun Lee, Christopher S. Willett
Summary: It has been discovered that extensive paternal mitochondrial DNA transmission is occurring in inter-population hybrids of the marine copepod Tigriopus californicus, which challenges the previous assumption of solely maternal inheritance in this species. This finding raises the potential for paternal leakage in other animal systems thought to only inherit maternal mitochondria, affecting the interpretation of past and future population genetics or phylogenetic studies relying on mitochondria as uniparental markers.
JOURNAL OF HEREDITY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Katherine H. Malinski, Clyde E. Sorenson, M. Elizabeth Moore, Christopher S. Willett, Joel G. Kingsolver
Summary: Extreme high temperatures associated with climate change can affect species directly and indirectly through temperature-mediated species interactions. This study explores the effects of high temperatures on the ecological outcomes of the parasitoid wasp and two co-occurring larval hosts. The results show that the thermal tolerance of the host species is higher than that of the parasitoid, resulting in parasitoid mortality under extreme high temperatures. However, some host individuals can partially recover from parasitism at high temperatures, with the recovery frequency higher in one host species compared to the other. The growth and development of the hosts also differ in the absence of parasitoids.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
