People with an interest in the subject of sympatric speciation might
like to have a look at a model discussed in today's edition of Science.
On the Origin of Species by Natural and Sexual Selection
G. Sander van Doorn, Pim Edelaar, Franz J. Weissing
Science 18 December 2009: Vol. 326. no. 5960, pp. 1704 - 1707 DOI:
10.1126/science.1181661
Abstract
"Ecological speciation is considered an adaptive response to selection
for local adaptation. However, besides suitable ecological conditions,
the process requires assortative mating to protect the nascent species
from homogenization by gene flow. By means of a simple model, we
demonstrate that disruptive ecological selection favors the evolution
of sexual preferences for ornaments that signal local adaptation. Such
preferences induce assortative mating with respect to ecological
characters and enhance the strength of disruptive selection. Natural
and sexual selection thus work in concert to achieve local adaptation
and reproductive isolation, even in the presence of substantial gene
flow. The resulting speciation process ensues without the divergence
of mating preferences, avoiding problems that have plagued previous
models of speciation by sexual selection."
There is an associated summary article by Judith E. Mank "Sexual
Selection and Darwin's Mystery of Mysteries" Science 18 December
2009: Vol. 326. no. 5960, pp. 1639 - 1640 DOI: 10.1126/science.
1184680
Regards, Laurie.
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