Mating patterns and post-mating isolation in three cryptic species of the Engystomops petersi species complex.

ABSTRACT: Determining the extent of reproductive isolation in cryptic species with dynamic geographic ranges can yield important insights into the processes that generate and maintain genetic divergence in the absence of severe geographic barriers. We studied mating patterns, propensity to hybridize in nature and subsequent fertilization rates, as well as survival and development of hybrid F1 offspring for three nominal species of the Engystomops petersi species complex in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador. We found at least two species in four out of six locations sampled, and 14.3% of the wild pairs genotyped were mixed-species (heterospecific) crosses. We also found reduced fertilization rates in hybrid crosses between E. petersi females and E. "magnus" males, and between E. "magnus" females and E. "

SUBMITTER: Trillo PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5384746 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature