Reticulate sympatric speciation in Cameroonian crater lake cichlids.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Traditionally the rapid origin of megadiverse species flocks of extremely closely related species is explained by the combinatory action of three factors: Disruptive natural selection, disruptive sexual selection and partial isolation by distance. However, recent empirical data and theoretical advances suggest that the diversity of complex species assemblages is based at least partially on the hybridization of numerous ancestral allopatric lineages that formed hybrids upon invasion of new environments. That reticulate speciation within species flocks may occur under sympatric conditions after the primary formation of species has been proposed but not been tested critically. RESULTS: We reconstructed the phylogeny of a complex cichlid species flock confined to the tiny Camerooni

SUBMITTER: Schliewen UK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC544937 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature