Gut microbiomes and reproductive isolation in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: Experimental studies of the evolution of reproductive isolation (RI) in real time are a powerful way in which to reveal fundamental, early processes that initiate divergence. In a classic speciation experiment, populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura were subjected to divergent dietary selection and evolved significant positive assortative mating by diet. More recently, a direct role for the gut microbiome in determining this type of RI in Drosophila melanogaster has been proposed. Manipulation of the diet, and hence the gut microbiome, was reported to result in immediate assortative mating by diet, which could be eliminated by reducing gut microbes using antibiotics and recreated by adding back Lactobacillus plantarum We suggest that the evolutionary significance of t

SUBMITTER: Leftwich PT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5715749 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature