Selective loss of polymorphic mating types is associated with rapid phenotypic evolution during morphic speciation.

ABSTRACT: Polymorphism may play an important role in speciation because new species could originate from the distinctive morphs observed in polymorphic populations. However, much remains to be understood about the process by which morphs found new species. To detail the steps of this mode of speciation, we studied the geographic variation and evolutionary history of a throat color polymorphism that distinguishes the "rock-paper-scissors" mating strategies of the side-blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana. We found that the polymorphism is geographically widespread and has been maintained for millions of years. However, there are many populations with reduced numbers of throat color morphs. Phylogenetic reconstruction showed that the polymorphism is ancestral, but it has been independently lost eight tim

SUBMITTER: Corl A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2840131 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature