Rapid ecological isolation and intermediate genetic divergence in lacustrine cyclic parthenogens.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ecological shifts can promote rapid divergence and speciation. However, the role of ecological speciation in animals that reproduce predominantly asexually with periodic sex and strong dispersal, such as lacustrine cladocerans, is poorly understood. These life history traits may slow or prevent ecological lineage formation among populations. Proponents of the postglacial ecological isolation hypothesis for Daphnia suggest that some species have formed postglacially in adjacent, but ecologically different habitats. We tested this hypothesis with ecological, morphological, and multilocus coalescence analyses in the putative lacustrine sister species, Daphnia parvula and Daphnia retrocurva.

Results

Daphnia parvula and D. retrocurva showed strong habitat separation wi

SUBMITTER: Costanzo KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2895610 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature