The ecological stage maintains preference differentiation and promotes speciation

• Influential models of speciation by sexual selection posit either a single sharedpreference for a universal display, expressed only when males are locally adaptedand hence in high condition, or that shared loci evolve population-specificallelesfor displays and preferences. However, many closely related species instead showsubstantial differences across categorically different traits. We present a modelof secondary contact whereby females maintain preferences for distinct displaysthat indicate both male condition and their match to distinct environments, fosteringreproductive isolation among diverging species. This occurs even with searchcosts and with independent preference loci targeting independent displays. Suchpreferences can also evolve from standing variation. Divergence occurs becausecondition-dependentdisplay and female preference depend on local ecology, andfemales obtain different benefits of choice. Given the ubiquity of ecological differencesamong environments, our model could help explain the evolution of strikingradiations of displays seen in nature.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

condition-dependent

environmental-match

female preference

search costs

secondary contact

sexual selection

speciation

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)