title: Pairing dynamics and the origin of species.
abstract: Whether sexual selection alone can drive the evolution of assortative mating in the presence of gene flow is a long-standing question in evolutionary biology. Here, we report a role for pairing dynamics of individuals when mate choice is mutual, which is sufficient for the evolution of assortative mating by sexual selection alone in the presence of gene flow. Through behavioural observation, individual-based simulation and population genetic analysis, we evaluate the pairing dynamics of coral reef fish in the genus Hypoplectrus (Serranidae), and the role these dynamics can play for the evolution of assortative mating. When mate choice is mutual and the stability of mating pairs is critical for reproductive success, the evolution of assortative mating in the presence of gene flow is not only possible, but is also a robust evolutionary outcome.
authors.affiliation: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamá, República de Panamá. oscar.puebla@mail.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Puebla
authors.forename: Eldredge
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bermingham
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guichard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005260:Female; D051456:Gene Flow; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D052586:Mating Preference, Animal; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008954:Models, Biological; D000069497:Origin of Life; D010473:Perciformes / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction