Does assortative mating contribute to reproductive isolation among sympatric ecotypes of the wing‐dimorphic stonefly Zelandoperla fenestrata (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae)?. Issue 3 (13th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kroos, Gracie C; Waters, Jonathan M; McCulloch, Graham A
• Is Part Of: Austral entomology. Volume 60:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 571
• Page End: 577
• Publication Date: 2021-06-13
• Subjects: behaviour -- ecological speciation -- ecotype -- evolution -- reproduction -- sympatric -- wingless; Entomology -- Southern Hemisphere -- Periodicals; 595.705
• DOI: 10.1111/aen.12553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-174X

Abstract

Abstract: Testing for reproductive isolation among sympatrically diverging lineages is a key prerequisite for understanding speciation processes. Recent genome‐wide studies of the wing‐dimorphic New Zealand stonefly Zelandoperla fenestrata have revealed evidence for ecological speciation among sympatric ecotype pairs, but the basis for their apparent reproductive isolation remains unclear. We conduct paired mating tests among co‐distributed Z. fenestrata ecotypes from southern South Island to test for prezygotic barriers contributing to their reproductive isolation and divergence. Experimental data reveal assortative mating among ecotypes, with strong differentiation in the duration of matings between matched‐ecotype pairs relative to non‐matched pairs. These findings add weight to the hypothesis that assortative mating can be a key mechanism facilitating rapid ecological speciation of sympatric ecotypes. Our study also represents the first documentation of mating behaviours in the Southern Hemisphere stonefly suborder Antarctoperlaria.