The genetics of mate preferences in hybrids between two young and sympatric Lake Victoria cichlid species.

ABSTRACT: The genetic architecture of mate preferences is likely to affect significant evolutionary processes, including speciation and hybridization. Here, we investigate laboratory hybrids between a pair of sympatric Lake Victoria cichlid fish species that appear to have recently evolved from a hybrid population between similar predecessor species. The species demonstrate strong assortative mating in the laboratory, associated with divergent male breeding coloration (red dorsum versus blue). We show in a common garden experiment, using DNA-based paternity testing, that the strong female mate preferences among males of the two species are fully recovered in a large fraction of their F2 hybrid generation. Individual hybrid females often demonstrated consistent preferences in multiple mate choice tri

SUBMITTER: Svensson O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5326523 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature