Niche divergence facilitated by fine-scale ecological partitioning in a recent cichlid fish adaptive radiation.

ABSTRACT: Ecomorphological differentiation is a key feature of adaptive radiations, with a general trend for specialization and niche expansion following divergence. Ecological opportunity afforded by invasion of a new habitat is thought to act as an ecological release, facilitating divergence, and speciation. Here, we investigate trophic adaptive morphology and ecology of an endemic clade of oreochromine cichlid fishes (Alcolapia) that radiated along a herbivorous trophic axis following colonization of an isolated lacustrine environment, and demonstrate phenotype-environment correlation. Ecological and morphological divergence of the Alcolapia species flock are examined in a phylogenomic context, to infer ecological niche occupation within the radiation. Species divergence is observed in both ecolo

SUBMITTER: Ford AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5132037 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature