Ecological selection as the cause and sexual differentiation as the consequence of species divergence?

ABSTRACT: Key conceptual issues about speciation go unanswered without consideration of non-mutually exclusive factors. With tests based on speciation theory, we exploit the island distribution and habitat differences exhibited by the Caribbean cricket Amphiacusta sanctaecrucis, and with an analysis of divergent ecological selection, sexually selected differentiation and geographical isolation, address how these different factors interact. After testing for divergent selection by comparing neutral genetic and morphological divergence in one ecological (mandible shape) and one sexual (male genitalia shape) trait, we examine whether ecological or sexual selection is the primary mechanism driving population divergence. We find that all three factors--isolation, ecological and sexual selection--contribu

SUBMITTER: Oneal E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3574439 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature