Chemical signals and social structures strengthen sexual isolation in Drosophila pseudoobscura.

ABSTRACT: Species that coexist in hybrid zones sexually isolate through reproductive character displacement, a mechanism that favours divergence between species. In Drosophila, behavioural and physiological traits discourage heterospecific mating between species. Recently, social network analysis revealed flies produce strain-specific and species-specific social structures. A gene, degrees of kevin bacon (dokb) has also been discovered that accounts for differences in social structures between flies. Why differences in social structures exist between drosophilids is currently unknown. Here we show through an experimental evolution study that six generations of selection in experimental sympatry led to the divergence of social structures measured in Drosophila pseudoobscura and Drosophila persimilis

SUBMITTER: Jezovit JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11742438 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature