Genetic basis of a key trait for sympatric speciation in cichlids
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1
University of Bern, Institute of Ecology and Evolution; Divison of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Switzerland
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2
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Centre of Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry; Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Switzerland
One hallmark of the East African cichlid radiations is the rapid evolution of reproductive isolation that is robust to full sympatry of many closely related species. Theory predicts that speciation in sympatry and species persistence in sympatry (with gene flow) are more likely if loci of large effects underlie traits involved in behavioural reproductive isolation. Here we investigate the genetic architecture of a key mating trait, male nuptial coloration, in two pairs of sister species of Lake Victoria cichlid fish of the genus Pundamilia. One is a young sympatric species pair, representative of a red-back vs blue male colour polymorphism that is associated with many sympatric species pairs at all stages of genetic differentiation in several genera of Lake Victoria cichlids. The other is a species pair representative of a red-chest vs blue male colour polymorphism that is typically associated with divergence into allopatric sister species of Lake Victoria cichlids, and that is rarely seen in sympatry. We use a QTL mapping approach to map the presence / absence of red in 170 second generation hybrid (F2) males of a cross between the two sympatric species, and 140 F2 males of a cross between the two allopatric species. Our results are indicative of several highly significant QTLs for red colour in the sympatric pair, whereas we find none in the allopatric pair. These findings are consistent with the theoretical prediction that the presence of large effect loci in mating trait differentiation could facilitate speciation and species persistence in sympatry (with gene flow).
Keywords:
speciation,
Lake Victoria,
Cichlids,
Genetic architecture,
Mating traits,
reproductive isolation
Conference:
XVI European Congress of Ichthyology, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2 Sep - 6 Sep, 2019.
Presentation Type:
Oral
Topic:
EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS OF FISHES
Citation:
Feller
AF and
Seehausen
O
(2019). Genetic basis of a key trait for sympatric speciation in cichlids.
Front. Mar. Sci.
Conference Abstract:
XVI European Congress of Ichthyology.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2019.07.00036
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Received:
14 May 2019;
Published Online:
14 Aug 2019.
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Correspondence:
Mx. Anna F Feller, University of Bern, Institute of Ecology and Evolution; Divison of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Bern, Switzerland, anna.feller@eawag.ch