abstract: The intertidal midge Clunio marinus is distributed along the European coast-line. Stocks from distinct locations differ in the programming of their emergence time. They represent ecological races. The crossability between 7 stocks was examined.Between some stocks a non-reciprocal cross sterility has been found, characterized by fertile hybrids in one cross direction, and no offspring in the reciprocal crosses.The cross Jean ♀xSan ♂ was fertile, while the cross San ♀xJean ♂ was sterile. After three backcrosses of the hybrid females to San males, the sterility in the reciprocal crosses with San females had not been changed. The maternal inheritance of this non-reciprocal sterility is compared with similar studies in Culex pipiens by Laven.According to aspects of population genetics, the non-reciprocal cross sterility is considered in view of elimination of crossing types, of gene flow and reproductive isolation. With regard to the significance of the non-reciprocal cross sterility in the field, three hypotheses are discussed: 1. by-product of evolutionary divergence in ecological races, 2. unilateral reproductive isolation which blocks the gene flow between adjacent populations only in one direction, and 3. speciation.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Physiologische Ökologie, Zoologisches Institut der Universität Köln, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Dietrich
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neumann