title: Searching for speciation genes: molecular evidence for selection associated with colour morphotypes in the Caribbean reef fish genus Hypoplectrus.
abstract: Closely related species that show clear phenotypic divergence, but without obvious geographic barriers, can provide opportunities to study how diversification can occur when opportunities for allopatric speciation are limited. We examined genetic divergence in the coral reef fish genus Hypoplectrus (family: Serranidae), which comprises of 10-14 morphotypes that are distinguished solely by their distinct colour patterns, but which show little genetic differentiation. Our goal was to detect loci that show clear disequilibrium between morphotypes and across geographical locations. We conducted Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism molecular analysis to quantify genetic differentiation among, and selection between, morphotypes. Three loci were consistently divergent beyond neutral expectations in repeated pair-wise morphotype comparisons using two different methods. These loci provide the first evidence for genes that may be associated with colour morphotype in the genus Hypoplectrus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. bholt@bio.ku.dk
authors.forename: Ben G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Isabelle M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.forename: Brent C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Emerson
mesh_terms: D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D000818:Animals; D001492:Bass / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics*; D056426:Genetic Loci / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D010641:Phenotype; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers