Multiple speciation events in an arthropod with divergent evolution in sexual morphology.

ABSTRACT: Sexual selection can facilitate divergent evolution of traits related to mating and consequently promote speciation. Theoretically, independent operation of sexual selection in different populations can lead to divergence of sexual traits among populations and result in allopatric speciation. Here, we show that divergent evolution in sexual morphology affecting mating compatibility (body size and genital morphologies) and speciation have occurred in a lineage of millipedes, the Parafontaria tonominea species complex. In this millipede group, male and female body and genital sizes exhibit marked, correlated divergence among populations, and the diverged morphologies result in mechanical reproductive isolation between sympatric species. The morphological divergence occurred among populations

SUBMITTER: Sota T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2842753 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature