Mechanisms Of Speciation Research Articles

Co-Speciation of the Ectoparasite Gyrodactylus teuchis (Monogenea, Platyhelminthes) and Its Salmonid Hosts.

Co-speciation is a fundamental concept of evolutionary biology and intuitively appealing, yet in practice hard to demonstrate as it is often blurred by other evolutionary processes. We investigate the phylogeographic history of the monogenean ectoparasites Gyrodactylus teuchis and G. truttae on European salmonids of the genus Salmo. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 were sequenced for 189 Gyrodactylus individuals collected from 50 localities, distributed across most major European river systems, from the Iberian- to the Balkan Peninsula. Despite both anthropogenic and naturally caused admixture of the principal host lineages among major river basins, co-phylogenetic analyses revealed significant global congruence for host and parasite phylogenies, providing firm support for co-speciation of G. teuchis and its salmonid hosts brown trout (S. trutta) and Atlantic salmon (S. salar). The major split within G. teuchis, coinciding with the initial divergence of the hosts was dated to ~1.5 My BP, using a Bayesian framework based on an indirect calibration point obtained from the host phylogeny. The presence of G. teuchis in Europe thus predates some of the major Pleistocene glaciations. In contrast, G. truttae exhibited remarkably low intraspecific genetic diversity. Given the direct life cycle and potentially high transmission potential of gyrodactylids, this finding is interpreted as indication for a recent emergence (<60 ky BP) of G. truttae via a host-switch. Our study thus suggests that instances of two fundamentally different mechanisms of speciation (co-speciation vs. host-switching) may have occurred on the same hosts in Europe within a time span of less than 1.5 My in two gyrodactylid ectoparasite species.

Species-Level Phylogeny and Polyploid Relationships in Hordeum (Poaceae) Inferred by Next-Generation Sequencing and In Silico Cloning of Multiple Nuclear Loci.

Polyploidization is an important speciation mechanism in the barley genus Hordeum. To analyze evolutionary changes after allopolyploidization, knowledge of parental relationships is essential. One chloroplast and 12 nuclear single-copy loci were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in all Hordeum plus six out-group species. Amplicons from each of 96 individuals were pooled, sheared, labeled with individual-specific barcodes and sequenced in a single run on a 454 platform. Reference sequences were obtained by cloning and Sanger sequencing of all loci for nine supplementary individuals. The 454 reads were assembled into contigs representing the 13 loci and, for polyploids, also homoeologues. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted for all loci separately and for a concatenated data matrix of all loci. For diploid taxa, a Bayesian concordance analysis and a coalescent-based dated species tree was inferred from all gene trees. Chloroplast matK was used to determine the maternal parent in allopolyploid taxa. The relative performance of different multilocus analyses in the presence of incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization was also assessed. The resulting multilocus phylogeny reveals for the first time species phylogeny and progenitor-derivative relationships of all di- and polyploid Hordeum taxa within a single analysis. Our study proves that it is possible to obtain a multilocus species-level phylogeny for di- and polyploid taxa by combining PCR with next-generation sequencing, without cloning and without creating a heavy load of sequence data.

Speciation in seabirds: why are there so many species…and why aren’t there more?

Speciation—the multiplication of species through the evolution of barriers to reproduction between populations—plays a central role in evolution since it enables two or more populations to adapt and evolve independently. However, mechanisms of speciation are notoriously difficult to study and poorly understood. Seabirds provide useful models to investigate factors that may promote or inhibit speciation because their ecology and evolutionary genetics are relatively well understood. Here I review population genetic studies of seabirds to test the importance of six factors with the potential to disrupt gene flow enough to result in speciation. Over 200 studies, including over 100 species, have been published to date. Most show evidence of restrictions in gene flow. Physical (geographic) barriers to dispersal are clearly important: conspecific populations that are separated by large expanses of land or ice show evidence of restricted gene flow, and sister species often are separated by physical barriers to gene flow. However, many species of seabirds show evidence of restrictions in gene flow in the absence of physical barriers to dispersal. Study results indicate that differences in ocean regimes, nonbreeding distributions, foraging distributions during the breeding season, and breeding phenology also can disrupt gene flow enough to lead to speciation. Of these, physical isolation and differences in ocean regime appear to be the most important. Philopatry alone may be sufficient to result in reproductive isolation, but usually it acts in combination with other barriers to gene flow. The effects of many other potential influences on gene flow need to be investigated more thoroughly, including colony distribution/location, wind, interspecific interactions, environmental stability/variability, variation in phenotypic traits associated with mate choice (morphology, behaviour, vocalisations) and intrinsic (genomic) incompatabilities. Recent advances in genome sequencing, especially if used in combination with ecological tools such as geolocators and new methods for data interpretation, are opening exiting new avenues to test the importance of various behavioural, ecological, demographic and genomic factors in reducing or promoting gene flow and so affecting speciation.

Differences in performance and transcriptome‐wide gene expression associated with Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae) larvae feeding in alternate host fruit environments

Host race formation, the establishment of new populations using novel resources, is a major hypothesized mechanism of ecological speciation, especially in plant-feeding insects. The initial stages of host race formation will often involve phenotypic plasticity on the novel resource, with subsequent genetically based adaptations enhancing host-associated fitness differences. Several studies have explored the physiology of the plastic responses of insects to novel host environments. However, the mechanisms underlying evolved differences among host races and species remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate a reciprocal larval performance difference between two closely related species of Rhagoletis flies, R.pomonella and R.zephyria, specialized for feeding in apple and snowberry fruit, respectively. Microarray analysis of fly larvae feeding in apples versus snowberries revealed patterns of transcriptome-wide differential gene expression consistent with both plastic and evolved responses to the different fruit resources, most notably for detoxification-related genes such as cytochrome p450s. Transcripts exhibiting evolved expression differences between species tended to also demonstrate plastic responses to fruit environment. The observed pattern suggests that Rhagoletis larvae exhibit extensive plasticity in gene expression in response to novel fruit that may potentiate shifts to new hosts. Subsequent selection, particularly selection to suppress initially costly plastic responses, could account for the evolved expression differences observed between R.pomonella and R.zephyria, creating specialized races and new fly species. Thus, genetically based ecological adaptations generating new biodiversity may often evolve from initial plastic responses in gene expression to the challenges posed by novel environments.

The functional basis of wing patterning in Heliconius butterflies: the molecules behind mimicry.

Wing-pattern mimicry in butterflies has provided an important example of adaptation since Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace proposed evolution by natural selection >150 years ago. The neotropical butterfly genus Heliconius played a central role in the development of mimicry theory and has since been studied extensively in the context of ecology and population biology, behavior, and mimicry genetics. Heliconius species are notable for their diverse color patterns, and previous crossing experiments revealed that much of this variation is controlled by a small number of large-effect, Mendelian switch loci. Recent comparative analyses have shown that the same switch loci control wing-pattern diversity throughout the genus, and a number of these have now been positionally cloned. Using a combination of comparative genetic mapping, association tests, and gene expression analyses, variation in red wing patterning throughout Heliconius has been traced back to the action of the transcription factor optix. Similarly, the signaling ligand WntA has been shown to control variation in melanin patterning across Heliconius and other butterflies. Our understanding of the molecular basis of Heliconius mimicry is now providing important insights into a variety of additional evolutionary phenomena, including the origin of supergenes, the interplay between constraint and evolvability, the genetic basis of convergence, the potential for introgression to facilitate adaptation, the mechanisms of hybrid speciation in animals, and the process of ecological speciation.

Genomic signatures of geographic isolation and natural selection in coral reef fishes.

The drivers of speciation remain among the most controversial topics in evolutionary biology. Initially, Darwin emphasized natural selection as a primary mechanism of speciation, but the architects of the modern synthesis largely abandoned that view in favour of divergence by geographic isolation. The balance between selection and isolation is still at the forefront of the evolutionary debate, especially for the world's tropical oceans where biodiversity is high, but isolating barriers are few. Here, we identify the drivers of speciation in Pacific reef fishes of the genus Acanthurus by comparative genome scans of two peripheral populations that split from a large Central-West Pacific lineage at roughly the same time. Mitochondrial sequences indicate that populations in the Hawaiian Archipelago and the Marquesas Islands became isolated approximately 0.5Ma. The Hawaiian lineage is morphologically indistinguishable from the widespread Pacific form, but the Marquesan form is recognized as a distinct species that occupies an unusual tropical ecosystem characterized by upwelling, turbidity, temperature fluctuations, algal blooms and little coral cover. An analysis of 3737 SNPs reveals a strong signal of selection at the Marquesas, with 59 loci under disruptive selection including an opsin Rh2 locus. While both the Hawaiian and Marquesan populations indicate signals of drift, the former shows a weak signal of selection that is comparable with populations in the Central-West Pacific. This contrast between closely related lineages reveals one population diverging due primarily to geographic isolation and genetic drift, and the other achieving taxonomic species status under the influence of selection.

The potential drivers in forming avian biodiversity hotspots in the East Himalaya Mountains of Southwest China.

Little has been published to describe or interpret Asian biodiversity hotspots, including those in the East Himalayan Mountains of Southwest China (HMSC), thus making necessary a review of the current knowledge. The Pliocene and Pleistocene geological and glacial histories of the Asian continent differ from those of Europe and North America, suggesting different mechanisms of speciation and extinction, and, thus, different responses to climate changes during the Quaternary glaciations. This short review summarizes potential drivers in shaping and maintaining high species richness and endemism of birds in the HMSC. The geographical location at the junction of different biogeographical realms, the wide range of habitats and climates along the extensive elevational range, the complex topography and the distinct geological history of this region have probably contributed to the evolution of an exceptionally species-rich and endemic-rich, specialized montane avian fauna. The Mountain systems in the HMSC may have provided refugia where species survived during the glacial periods and barriers for preventing species dispersal after the glacial periods. More studies are required to further test this refugia hypothesis by comparing more cold-tolerent and warm-tolerent species.

Specific features in linear and spatial organizations of pericentromeric heterochromatin regions in polytene chromosomes of the closely related species Drosophila virilis and D. kanekoi (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

Heterochromatin plays an important role in the spatial arrangement and evolution of the eukaryotic genetic apparatus. The closely related species Drosophila virilis (phyla virilis) and D. kanekoi (phyla montana) differ in the amount of heterochromatin along the chromosomes as well as by the presence of the metacentric chromosome 2, which emerged as a result of a pericentric inversion during speciation, in the D. kanekoi karyotype. The purpose of this study was to establish if chromosome rearrangements have any influence on the linear redistribution of centromeric heterochromatin in polytene chromosomes and the spatial organization of chromosomes in the nuclei of nurse cell. We have microdissected the chromocenter of D. virilis salivary gland polytene chromosomes; obtained a DNA library of this region (DvirIII); and hybridized (FISH) DvirIII to the salivary gland and nurse cell polytene chromosomes of D. virilis and D. kanekoi. We demonstrated that DvirIII localizes to the pericentromeric heterochromatin regions of all chromosomes and peritelomeric region of chromosome 5 in both species. Unlike D. virilis, the DvirIII signal in D. kanekoi chromosomes is detectable in the telomeric region of chromosome 2. We have also conducted a 3D FISH of DvirIII probe to the D. virilis and D. kanekoi nurse cell chromosomes. In particular, the DvirIII signal in D. virilis was observed in the local chromocenter at one pole of the nucleus, while the signal belonging to the telomeric region of chromosome 5 was detectable at the other pole. In contrast, in D. kanekoi there exist two separate DvirIII-positive regions. One of these regions belongs to the pericentromeric region of chromosome 2 and the other, to pericentromeric regions of the remaining chromosomes. These results suggest that chromosome rearrangements play an important role in the redistribution of heterochromatin DNA sequences in the genome, representing a speciation mechanism, which, in general, could also affect the chromosome orientation in the 3D nuclear space.

Eurasian house mouse (Mus musculus L.) differentiation at microsatellite loci identifies the Iranian plateau as a phylogeographic hotspot.

BackgroundThe phylogeography of the house mouse (Mus musculus L.), an emblematic species for genetic and biomedical studies, is only partly understood, essentially because of a sampling bias towards its most peripheral populations in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Moreover, the present-day phylogeographic hypotheses stem mostly from the study of mitochondrial lineages. In this article, we complement the mtDNA studies with a comprehensive survey of nuclear markers (19 microsatellite loci) typed in 963 individuals from 47 population samples, with an emphasis on the putative Middle-Eastern centre of dispersal of the species.ResultsBased on correspondence analysis, distance and allele-sharing trees, we find a good coherence between geographical origin and genetic make-up of the populations. We thus confirm the clear distinction of the three best described peripheral subspecies, M. m. musculus, M. m. domesticus and M. m. castaneus. A large diversity was found in the Iranian populations, which have had an unclear taxonomic status to date. In addition to samples with clear affiliation to M. m. musculus and M. m. domesticus, we find two genetic groups in Central and South East Iran, which are as distinct from each other as they are from the south-east Asian M. m. castaneus. These groups were previously also found to harbor distinct mitochondrial haplotypes.ConclusionWe propose that the Iranian plateau is home to two more taxonomic units displaying complex primary and secondary relationships with their long recognized neighbours. This central region emerges as the area with the highest known diversity of mouse lineages within a restricted geographical area, designating it as the focal place to study the mechanisms of speciation and diversification of this species.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0306-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effects of habitat transition on the evolutionary patterns of the microgastropod genus Pseudamnicola (Mollusca, Hydrobiidae)

Molecular phylogenies of extant species are considered effective tools to infer mechanisms of speciation. Here, we benefit from this utility to investigate the evolutionary history of an organismal group linked to different aquatic ecosystems, the microgastropod genus Pseudamnicola (family Hydrobiidae). Previous studies have found around 45 species of the nominal subgenus P. (Pseudamnicola), most of them in coastal stream localities of several Mediterranean islands and mainland territories, whereas only 12 species of the other subgenus, P. (Corrosella), have been collected from springs and headwaters of mountainous regions of the Iberian Peninsula and south of France. As springs often act as isolated habitats affecting dispersion and constraining gene flow, we supposed that the temporal history and mode of diversification of species from both subgenera should differ and therefore be reflected in their phylogenetic patterns. To assess this hypothesis, we performed a molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences and later conducted an independent analysis to examine the potential effect of certain geographic and ecological variables in the genetic divergences of the subgenera. Additionally, we estimated the ancestral area of diversification of both groups. Published anatomical revisions and our molecular analyses suggest that the genus Pseudamnicola should be divided into three genera: the two previous subgenera plus a new one described here. As postulated, the evolution of the spring organisms was strongly related to habitat fragmentation and isolation, whereas dispersal followed by divergence seem to have been the most common speciation processes for euryhaline species inhabiting coastal streams and low river stages in which waters remain connected. On the contrary, rather than habitat fragmentation or dispersion, environmental conditions have played a larger role during the deep divergent split leading to the three genera.

Analyses of alternatively processed genes in ciliates provide insights into the origins of scrambled genomes and may provide a mechanism for speciation.

ABSTRACT Chromosome rearrangements occur in a variety of eukaryotic life cycles, including during the development of the somatic macronuclear genome in ciliates. Previous work on the phyllopharyngean ciliate Chilodonella uncinata revealed that macronuclear β-tubulin and protein kinase gene families share alternatively processed germ line segments nested within divergent regions. To study genome evolution in this ciliate further, we characterized two additional alternatively processed gene families from two cryptic species of the ciliate morphospecies C. uncinata: those encoding histidine acid phosphatase protein (Hap) and leishmanolysin family protein (Lei). Analyses of the macronuclear Hap and Lei sequences reveal that each gene family consists of three members in the macronucleus that are marked by identical regions nested among highly divergent regions. Investigation of the micronuclear Hap sequences revealed a complex pattern in which the three macronuclear sequences are derived either from a single micronuclear region or from a combination of this shared region recombined with additional duplicate micronuclear copies of Hap. We propose a model whereby gene scrambling evolves by gene duplication followed by partial and reciprocal degradation of the duplicate sequences. In this model, alternative processing represents an intermediate step in the evolution of scrambled genes. Finally, we speculate on the possible role of genome architecture in speciation in ciliates by describing what might happen if changes in alternatively processed loci occur in subdivided populations.

Ecological differentiation and local adaptation in two sister species of Neotropical Costus (Costaceae).

Reciprocal transplant experiments have often provided evidence of local adaptation in temperate plants, but few such studies have been conducted in the tropics. To enhance our knowledge of local adaptation in tropical plants, we studied natural populations of two recently diverged Neotropical plant species, Costus allenii and C. villosissimus, in central Panama. We found that these species display a parapatric distribution that reflects local environmental differences on a fine geographic scale: C. allenii is found along ravines in the understory of primary forest, while C. villosissimus is found along forest edges. Light availability was lower in C. allenii habitats, while precipitation and soil moisture were lower in C. villosissimus habitats. We carried out reciprocal transplant experiments with seeds and clones of mature plants to test the hypothesis that the parapatric distribution of these species is due to divergent adaptation to their local habitats. We found strong evidence of local adaptation, i.e., when grown in their "home" sites, each species outperformed the species from an "away" site. Our finding that C. allenii and C. villosissimus are mainly isolated by their microhabitats provides a first step toward understanding the mechanisms of adaptation and speciation in the tropics.

Tiger Swallowtail Genome Reveals Mechanisms for Speciation and Caterpillar Chemical Defense

SUMMARYPredicting phenotype from genotype represents the epitome of biological questions. Comparative genomics of appropriate model organisms holds the promise of making it possible. However, the high heterozygosity of many Eukaryotes currently prohibits assembling their genomes. Here, we report the 376 Mb genome sequence of Papilio glaucus (Pgl), the first sequenced genome from the Papilionidae family. We obtained the genome from a wild-caught specimen using a cost-effective strategy that overcomes the high (2%) heterozygosity problem. Comparative analyses suggest the molecular bases of various phenotypic traits, including terpene production in the Papilionidae-specific organ, osmeterium. Comparison of Pgl and Papilio canadensis transcriptomes reveals mutation hotspots (4% genes) associated with their divergence: four key circadian clock proteins are enriched in inter-species mutations and likely responsible for the difference in pupal diapause. Finally, the Pgl genome confirms Papilio appalachiensis as a hybrid of Pgl and Pca, but suggests it inherited 3/4 of its genes from Pca.

Differences in gene flow in a twofold secondary contact zone of pond turtles in southern Italy (Testudines: Emydidae:Emys orbicularis galloitalica,E. o. hellenica,E. trinacris)

Using virtually range‐wide sampling for three pond turtle taxa (Emys orbicularis galloitalica,E. o. hellenica,E. trinacris), we analyse gene flow across their southern Italian contact zone. Based on population genetic analyses of 15 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci and a mitochondrial marker, we show that the general genetic pattern matches well with the current taxon delimitation. Yet, single individuals with conflicting genetic identity suggest translocation of turtles by humans. In addition, we identify in south‐western France and the vicinity of Rome populations being heavily impacted by introduced turtles. Cline analyses reveal that the major genetic break betweenE. o. galloitalicaandE. o. hellenicacorresponds well with the currently accepted intergradation zone in southern Italy. However, introgression is largely unidirectional fromE. o. galloitalicaintoE. o. hellenica. In the distribution range of the latter subspecies, genetic footprints ofE. o. galloitalicaare evident along most of the Italian east coast. Our results corroborate thatE. o. galloitalicawas introduced long ago in Corsica and Sardinia and naturalized there. Gene flow betweenE. orbicularisandE. trinacrisis negligible, with the Strait of Messina matching well with the narrow cline centre between the two species. This contrasts with other Mediterranean freshwater turtle species with extensive transoceanic gene flow. Compared to the two subspecies ofE. orbicularis, the SicilianE. trinacrisshows an unexpectedly strong population structuring, a finding also of some relevance for conservation. The differences between the two taxon pairsE. orbicularis/E. trinacrisandE. o. galloitalica/E. o. hellenicasupport their current taxonomic classification and make them attractive objects for follow‐up studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of speciation by comparing their properties.

Age and origin of Australian Bennelongia (Crustacea, Ostracoda)

South-western Australia holds an exceptional number of endemic taxa and has been recognized as a biodiversity hotspot at a global scale. We report a much higher diversity in the genus Bennelongia (Ostracoda) in Western than in eastern Australia. Using mitochondrial COI sequence data for phylogenies, relative age estimates, lineage-through-time plots, and reconstructions of ancestral distributions, we test four hypotheses that might explain the higher diversity and endemicity in Western Australia. (1) We find no evidence for ancient relictualism as most Bennelongia species are probably of Miocene age. (2) There are also no apparent links to vicariant events: speciation has mostly taken place in Western Australia and has been ongoing through the evolutionary history of Bennelongia. (3) Dispersal has apparently not negatively affected Western Australian Bennelongia endemicity although these ostracods produce drought-resistant eggs. We report one case of recent long distance dispersal in B. dedeckkeri with genetically identical populations occurring more than 2,000 km apart. (4) Since speciation has been ongoing, there is no evidence of recent explosive speciation through genetic isolation. The underlying mechanisms of Bennelongia speciation thus remain elusive, although speciation has mostly occurred during a period of increasing aridification of Australia.

Phenotypic differences are not explained by pre-zygotic reproductive barriers in sympatric varieties of the Humiria balsamifera complex (Humiriaceae)

Biosystematic studies addressing mechanisms of speciation in widespread, phenotypically variable Neotropical plant taxa are scarce. In Virua National Park, Roraima State, Brazil, we demonstrate that nine phenotypic variables measured from sympatric populations of two varieties within the Humiria balsamifera complex (Humiriaceae) are sharply discontinuous for both vegetative and floral characters. However, these differences were not explained by either phenological separation in anthesis, suppressed reproductive success in experimental inter-varietal crosses, or pollinator preferences, suggesting that pre-zygotic reproductive mechanisms do not contribute to the demonstrable phenotypic differences. Post-zygotic barriers such as reduced germination success in crosses, balancing selection at fine scales, or historical factors such as recent contact among formally isolated populations may account for the maintenance of phenotypic variation among these sympatric varieties. Future studies relating genetic structure with phenotypic variation may shed light on the mechanisms which promote and maintain large Neotropical species complexes such as in this case.

Fossil calibration dates for molecular phylogenetic analysis of snakes 1: Serpentes, Alethinophidia, Boidae, Pythonidae

Snakes possess a dense fossil record through the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic and are an important clade for studies of molecular phylogenetics. The use of the snake fossil record has historically been a limited and inaccurate source of temporal data in molecular studies due to taxonomic and phylogenetic ambiguities. Here I provide 10 fossil calibration dates for phylogenetic analysis of higher-order interrelationships of snakes. Calibration points include apomorphy-based systematic justifications and precise dates for hard minimum divergence timings. Calibrated nodes are for the snake total clade, Alethinophidia, and boid and pythonid taxa. Hard minimum divergence timings range from earliest late Cretaceous to middle Miocene. These dates provide precise minima for constraining the early evolutionary history of Serpentes. Comparisons of phylogenetically justified calibrations with published studies that employed form-taxon assignments suggests greatly younger divergences for justified nodes and indicates that deep-time divergence estimates that have been correlated with tectonic histories may be considerably too old and reliant on presumptions of Early Cretaceous Gondwanan vicariance as a mechanism of speciation. Jason J. Head. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Nebraska State Museum of Natural History University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-04340. Jhead2@unl.edu.

Inferring phylogenetic structure and ancient hybridization within Salmonidae using next-generation sequencing

Event Abstract Back to Event Inferring phylogenetic structure and ancient hybridization within Salmonidae using next-generation sequencing Laurène A. Lecaudey1*, Steven J. Weiss1 and Ulrich K. Schliewen2 1 University of Graz, Institute of Zoology, Austria 2 Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Department of Ichthyology, Germany Phylogenetic studies focusing on Salmonidae have thus far revealed significant drawbacks to elucidate some of the interspecific relationships within the family, due to limited number of markers, conflicting phylogenetic signals and hybridization events. In an attempt to resolve these issues, we applied restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) to 44 samples, including 23 different species across the family Salmonidae, with an emphasis on the genus Salvelinus. The aim of our study is to infer reliable interspecific phylogenetic relationships, evaluate several putative scenarios of ancient hybridization and detect possible reticulate patterns of evolution among salmonid fishes. RAD-seq can be particularly useful for systematic studies of closely related taxa, as it provides genome-wide informative characters and allows the detection of introgression. To our knowledge, this is the first next generation sequencing effort applied to salmonid phylogeny and related questions of their evolutionary history. Using the software pipeline pyRAD, we identified 28,402 orthologous loci, which were subsequently used in our downstream analyses. Phylogenetic inferences drawn from a maximum likelihood analysis reveal some interesting results. Salvelinus and Oncorhynchus appear as sister lineages, which contradicts some of the previous phylogenetic analyses. Additionally, despite constituting a separate genus, Salvethymus clusters within the genus Salvelinus, which is consistent with the findings of previous studies and therefore questions its taxonomic status. A monophylum of Salvelinus leucomaenis and Salvelinus levanidovi is the sister group to the remainder of the genus Salvelinus. The genus Parahucho appears as the sister clade to Salmo, which also contradicts some previously published inferences. Finally, we present a practical application of a relatively novel approach to test for putative ancient hybridization events. Since this is the first Salmonidae phylogeny based on RAD-seq data, our findings represent a valuable contribution to the systematics of this important family of freshwater fishes. Our results provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of speciation and ecological adaptation of Salmonidae, as well as the effect of hybridization on speciation, within an evolutionary framework. Acknowledgements Financial support was provided by the Austrian Center for Limnology (ACL) at the University of Graz. Keywords: RAD-seq, NGS, Salmo, Salvelinus, Parahucho, pyRAD, Introgression Conference: XV European Congress of Ichthyology, Porto, Portugal, 7 Sep - 11 Sep, 2015. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Phylogeny, Systematics and Genetics Citation: Lecaudey LA, Weiss SJ and Schliewen UK (2015). Inferring phylogenetic structure and ancient hybridization within Salmonidae using next-generation sequencing. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XV European Congress of Ichthyology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2015.03.00008 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 30 Oct 2015; Published Online: 04 Nov 2015. * Correspondence: Ms. Laurène A Lecaudey, University of Graz, Institute of Zoology, Graz, 8010, Austria, laurenelecaudey@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Laurène A Lecaudey Steven J Weiss Ulrich K Schliewen Google Laurène A Lecaudey Steven J Weiss Ulrich K Schliewen Google Scholar Laurène A Lecaudey Steven J Weiss Ulrich K Schliewen PubMed Laurène A Lecaudey Steven J Weiss Ulrich K Schliewen Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Modeling the two-locus architecture of divergent pollinator adaptation: how variation in SAD paralogs affects fitness and evolutionary divergence in sexually deceptive orchids.

Divergent selection by pollinators can bring about strong reproductive isolation via changes at few genes of large effect. This has recently been demonstrated in sexually deceptive orchids, where studies (1) quantified the strength of reproductive isolation in the field; (2) identified genes that appear to be causal for reproductive isolation; and (3) demonstrated selection by analysis of natural variation in gene sequence and expression. In a group of closely related Ophrys orchids, specific floral scent components, namely n-alkenes, are the key floral traits that control specific pollinator attraction by chemical mimicry of insect sex pheromones. The genetic basis of species-specific differences in alkene production mainly lies in two biosynthetic genes encoding stearoyl–acyl carrier protein desaturases (SAD) that are associated with floral scent variation and reproductive isolation between closely related species, and evolve under pollinator-mediated selection. However, the implications of this genetic architecture of key floral traits on the evolutionary processes of pollinator adaptation and speciation in this plant group remain unclear. Here, we expand on these recent findings to model scenarios of adaptive evolutionary change at SAD2 and SAD5, their effects on plant fitness (i.e., offspring number), and the dynamics of speciation. Our model suggests that the two-locus architecture of reproductive isolation allows for rapid sympatric speciation by pollinator shift; however, the likelihood of such pollinator-mediated speciation is asymmetric between the two orchid species O. sphegodes and O. exaltata due to different fitness effects of their predominant SAD2 and SAD5 alleles. Our study not only provides insight into pollinator adaptation and speciation mechanisms of sexually deceptive orchids but also demonstrates the power of applying a modeling approach to the study of pollinator-driven ecological speciation.

El papel de la reproducción en el origen y la evolución de las plantas poliploides

Castro, S., Loureiro, J.. 2014. The role of reproduction in the emergence and evolution of polyploid plants. Ecosistemas 23(3): 67-77. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2014.23-3.09 Polyploidy, the heritable condition of having more than two sets of chromosome per nucleus, has long been recognized as a major mechanism in plant speciation, and is widespread in the evolutionary history of angiosperms. This phenomenon has been proposed as a mechanism of rapid sympatric speciation because new entities can arise in the population and theoretically achieve immediate reproductive isolation. Reproduction plays a central role being involved not only in the emergence of new cytotypes but also in their maintenance and subsequent dispersal. The production of unreduced gametes is currently considered as the main pathway for the emergence of new cytotypes despite the reduced information available about its frequency in natural populations. Under random mating, the establishment of neopolyploids is subjected to strong frequency-dependent selection; thus, their successful establishment will depend on a set of ecological features that increase the reproductive success and, consequently, the probability of the new formed polyploids to persist in the parental population. Theoretical models suggest that traits as the ability to (continuously) produce new cytotypes, their fecundity, life-history, competitive ability or niche differentiation are important features that determine the persistence of new formed polyploids. However, despite its importance, there are still few studies exploring ecological consequences of genome duplications. In this paper we review the role of reproduction in the emergence and establishment of new cytotypes, highlighting the questions that remain to be explored.