Morphologically cryptic Amazonian bird species pairs exhibit strong postzygotic reproductive isolation.

ABSTRACT: We possess limited understanding of how speciation unfolds in the most species-rich region of the planet-the Amazon basin. Hybrid zones provide valuable information on the evolution of reproductive isolation, but few studies of Amazonian vertebrate hybrid zones have rigorously examined the genome-wide underpinnings of reproductive isolation. We used genome-wide genetic datasets to show that two deeply diverged, but morphologically cryptic sister species of forest understorey birds show little evidence for prezygotic reproductive isolation, but substantial postzygotic isolation. Patterns of heterozygosity and hybrid index revealed that hybrid classes with heavily recombined genomes are rare and closely match simulations with high levels of selection against hybrids. Genomic and geographical

SUBMITTER: Pulido-Santacruz P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5879619 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature