title: Speciation through sensory drive in cichlid fish.
abstract: Theoretically, divergent selection on sensory systems can cause speciation through sensory drive. However, empirical evidence is rare and incomplete. Here we demonstrate sensory drive speciation within island populations of cichlid fish. We identify the ecological and molecular basis of divergent evolution in the cichlid visual system, demonstrate associated divergence in male colouration and female preferences, and show subsequent differentiation at neutral loci, indicating reproductive isolation. Evidence is replicated in several pairs of sympatric populations and species. Variation in the slope of the environmental gradients explains variation in the progress towards speciation: speciation occurs on all but the steepest gradients. This is the most complete demonstration so far of speciation through sensory drive without geographical isolation. Our results also provide a mechanistic explanation for the collapse of cichlid fish species diversity during the anthropogenic eutrophication of Lake Victoria.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, University of Bern, Baltzerstr. 6, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. ole.seehausen@aqua.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Seehausen
authors.forename: Yohey
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terai
authors.forename: Isabel S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Magalhaes
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Carleton
authors.forename: Hillary D J
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Mrosso
authors.forename: Ryutaro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.forename: Inke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van der Sluijs
authors.forename: Maria V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Martine E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Maan
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tachida
authors.forename: Hiroo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000351:Africa, Eastern; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D023681:Cichlids / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D003116:Color; D005068:Eutrophication; D005260:Female; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005618:Fresh Water; D051456:Gene Flow; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D005843:Geography; D008297:Male; D052586:Mating Preference, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D017299:Rod Opsins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins; D017299:Rod Opsins