On the Origin of Coexisting Species. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Germain, Rachel M.; Hart, Simon P.; Turcotte, Martin M.; Otto, Sarah P.; Sakarchi, Jawad; Rolland, Jonathan; Usui, Takuji; Angert, Amy L.; Schluter, Dolph; Bassar, Ronald D.; Waters, Mia T.; Henao-Diaz, Francisco; Siepielski, Adam M.
• Is Part Of: Trends in ecology & evolution. Volume 36:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 284
• Page End: 293
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: coexistence theory -- ecological opportunity -- MacArthur -- macroevolution -- persistence -- speciation; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; 576.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.11.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-5347

Abstract

Abstract : Speciation is frequently initiated but rarely completed, a phenomenon hypothesized to arise due to the failure of nascent lineages to persist. Although a failure to persist often has ecological causes, key gaps exist between ecological and evolutionary theories that, if filled, would clarify when and why speciation succeeds or fails. Here, we apply ecological coexistence theory to show how the alignment between different forms of niche opportunity and niche use shape the initiation, progression, and completion of speciation. Niche evolution may drive coexistence or competitive exclusion, and an ability to coexist ecologically may help or hinder speciation. Our perspective allows progress towards unifying the origin and maintenance of species diversity across the tree of life. Highlights: Speciation is the process by which new species are formed, shaped by ecological conditions within which lineages live and evolve. We argue that the distribution of available resources within and among regions dictates if and how speciation will be initiated, as well as whether newly formed lineages will persist ecologically. Lineages may diverge to use different resource types, but whether divergence confers niche differentiation or a competitive asymmetry depends on resource availability in the location of secondary contact. Coexistence may sometimes help and sometimes halt speciation, depending on its timing relative to reproductive isolation, and may frequently fail due to stochastic extinction. Speciation modes emerge as a consequence of how different forms of ecological opportunity shape microevolutionary processes, giving rise to new persistent species at different rates.