title: Assortative mating between two sympatric closely-related specialists: inferred from molecular phylogenetic analysis and behavioral data.
abstract: Host plant shifting of phytophagous insects can lead to the formation of host associated differentiation and ultimately speciation. In some cases, host plant specificity alone acts as a nearly complete pre-mating isolating barrier among insect populations. We here test whether effective pre-mating isolation and host-independent behavioral isolation have evolved under the condition of extreme host specilization using two sympatric flea beetles with incomplete post-mating isolation under laboratory conditions. Phylogenetic analysis and coalescent simulation results showed that there is a limited interspecific gene flow, indicating effctive isolation between these species. Three types of mating tests in the absence of host plant cues showed that strong host-independent behavioral isolation has evolved between them. We conclude that almost perfect assortative mating between these two extreme host specialists results from a combination of reduced encounter rates due to differential host preference and strong sexual isolation.
authors: Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors: Huai-Jun
authors: HJ
authors: Xue
authors: Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors: Wen-Zhu
authors: WZ
authors: Li
authors: Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors: Xing-Ke
authors: XK
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002681:China; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D006239:Haplotypes; D058507:Host Specificity; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D010944:Plants / Q000469:parasitology*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D019476:Insect Proteins; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV