title: A speciation gene for left-right reversal in snails results in anti-predator adaptation.
abstract: How speciation genes can spread in a population is poorly understood. In land snails, a single gene for left-right reversal could be responsible for instant speciation, because dextral and sinistral snails have difficulty in mating. However, the traditional two-locus speciation model predicts that a mating disadvantage for the reversal should counteract this speciation. In this study, we show that specialized snake predation of the dextral majority drives prey speciation by reversal. Our experiments demonstrate that sinistral Satsuma snails (Stylommatophora: Camaenidae) survive predation by Pareas iwasakii (Colubroidea: Pareatidae). Worldwide biogeography reveals that stylommatophoran snail speciation by reversal has been accelerated in the range of pareatid snakes, especially in snails that gain stronger anti-snake defense and reproductive isolation from dextrals by sinistrality. Molecular phylogeny of Satsuma snails further provides intriguing evidence of repetitive speciation under snake predation. Our study demonstrates that a speciation gene can be fixed in populations by positive pleiotropic effects on survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan. hoso@m.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoso
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kameda
authors.forename: Shu-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asami
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hori
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D017812:Colubridae / Q000502:physiology*; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D012908:Snails / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D012911:Snakes / Q000502:physiology*