Simulated ecology-driven sympatric speciation.
We introduce a multilocus genetically acquired phenotype, submitted to mutations and with selective value, in an age-structured model for biological aging. This phenotype describes a single-trait effect of the environment on an individual, and we study the resulting distribution of this trait among the population. In particular, our simulations show that the appearance of a double phenotypic attractor in the ecology induces the emergence of a stable polymorphism, as observed in the Galapagos finches. In the presence of this polymorphism, the simulations generate short-term speciation, when mating preferences are also allowed to suffer mutations and acquire selective value.
Sá Martins
J S
JS
Colorado Center for Chaos and Complexity, CIRES, CB 216, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.
Moss de Oliveira
S
S
de Medeiros
G A
GA
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D004484:Ecuador; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D005828:Genetics, Population; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D020308:Songbirds / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity