RUI: Parallel Reproductive Isolation, Divergent Selection and the Origin of Stickleback Species

University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater WI

Investigators

Abstract

This project is designed to test a novel and unique prediction concerning the role of divergent selection in the evolution of reproductive isolation by studying natural populations of the threespine stickleback. Populations early in the speciation process should be more reproductively isolated when occuring in different environments compared to populations in similar environments. The comparative portion of the proposed research program focuses on whether stream-resident and marine populations of stickleback are consistently ioslated and stream opoulations consistently compatible, despite independ origins and distant relationships. Further experiments will be conducted to test the effect of body size on mating patterns. These investigations will constitute the most definitive test so far of parallel reproductive isolation in relation to environment, and lead potentially to the strongest evidence yet for the role of divergent selection in natural speciation.