Morphological differentiation despite gene flow in an endangered grasshopper.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gene flow is traditionally considered a limitation to speciation because selection is required to counter the homogenising effect of allele exchange. Here we report on two sympatric short-horned grasshoppers species in the South Island of New Zealand; one (Sigaus australis) widespread and the other (Sigaus childi) a narrow endemic.

Results

Of the 79 putatively neutral markers (mtDNA, microsatellite loci, ITS sequences and RAD-seq SNPs) all but one marker we examined showed extensive allele sharing, and similar or identical allele frequencies in the two species where they co-occur. We found no genetic evidence of deviation from random mating in the region of sympatry. However, analysis of morphological and geometric traits revealed no evidence of morphological intr

SUBMITTER: Dowle EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4219001 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature