Evolution of premating barriers in interspecific contacts: a
quantitative genetic modeling
|
Interspecific mating often causes the loss of female reproductive
success, and sometimes results in the extinction of a species. In such
a case, females are believed to evolve stronger mate preference to
avoid heterospecific mating, which promotes premating barriers between
species. Here we analyze this evolutionary process based on a
quantitative genetic model for the female mate preference and male
secondary sexual traits that facilitate species recognition when
hybrids are not viable. The magnitude of the evolutionary shift in the
male traits is the largest when the intensity of the female mate
choice is mildly large. At the ESS, the male trait most preferred by
females is more exaggerated than the male trait. Sexual dimorphism
evolves as female trait remains the viability optimum. If two species
were not made in contact before, their males quickly evolve
reproductive character displacement when they become sympatry by
invasion, migration, or spatial spread. When an alien species invades
and causes reproductive interference, the resident species can
mitigate the risk of extinction by the quick evolution of reproductive
character displacement.
|
| Back: Japanese / English |