Adaptive zones shape the magnitude of premating reproductive isolation in Timema stick insects.

ABSTRACT: Simpson's fossil-record inspired model of 'adaptive zones' proposes that evolution is dominated by small fluctuations within adaptive zones, occasionally punctuated by larger shifts between zones. This model can help explain why the process of population divergence often results in weak or moderate reproductive isolation (RI), rather than strong RI and distinct species. Applied to the speciation process, the adaptive zones hypothesis makes two inter-related predictions: (i) large shifts between zones are relatively rare, (ii) when large shifts do occur they generate stronger RI than shifts within zones. Here, we use ecological, phylogenetic and behavioural data to test these predictions in Timema stick insects. We show that host use in Timema is dominated by moderate shifts w

SUBMITTER: Muschick M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7423284 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature