Rapid experimental evolution of reproductive isolation from a single natural population.

ABSTRACT: Ecological speciation occurs when local adaptation generates reproductive isolation as a by-product of natural selection. Although ecological speciation is a fundamental source of diversification, the mechanistic link between natural selection and reproductive isolation remains poorly understood, especially in natural populations. Here, we show that experimental evolution of parasite body size over 4 y (approximately 60 generations) leads to reproductive isolation in natural populations of feather lice on birds. When lice are transferred to pigeons of different sizes, they rapidly evolve differences in body size that are correlated with host size. These differences in size trigger mechanical mating isolation between lice that are locally adapted to the different sized hosts. Size differenc

SUBMITTER: Villa SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6613143 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature