Research project The evolution of reproductive isolation
Biodiversity is all around us. It is the result of a process called speciation in which one species diverges into two separate species by becoming reproductively isolated (can not breed) from each other. But how does this happen? The process of speciation occurs over long evolutionary time scales that usually prevents directly observing its occurrence.
To help us answer this question we are examining the evolution and genetic basis of traits that cause populations to become partially reproductively isolated from each other. In this way we can begin to address what Darwin described as the “mystery of mysteries”.
Project description
Speciation is a fundamental evolutionary process requiring the evolution of barriers to gene exchange between populations. To stop gene exchange, successful reproduction has to be prevented. Because the evolution of male and female traits that contribute to successful reproduction within a population may vary between populations, reproduction can fail when the sexes from different populations interact and reproductive isolation can occur. The gametes - sperm and eggs - rapidly evolve and are predicted to be important as early mechanisms reducing gene exchange. Surprisingly though relatively little is known about how this rapid evolution may contribute to reproductive isolation. This project aims to fill this gap by determining how the evolution of male ejaculate and the female reproductive tract traits within populations contributes to reproductive incompatibility between populations. A novel integrative approach, combining the measurement of reproductive traits including morphology and reproductive proteins, and determining genetic differences between populations that are associated with these reproductive traits, will be used to accomplish this aim. The research is focused on the fruit fly species, Drosophila montana, in which populations vary in the extent of reproductive isolation due to gametic incompatibility. By comparing populations with and without this isolation, I can discriminate the factors that contribute to the evolution of early reproductive isolation, providing a substantial advance on understanding how speciation begins.
Project members
Project managers
Rhonda Snook
Professor
Members
Dick Moberg
PhD student
