Reproductive isolation in temperate reef fishes |
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Authors: | Maren Wellenreuther Kendall D Clements |
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Institution: | (1) School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | Opportunity and recognition isolation can lead directly to reproductive isolation, the former via divergence in the location
and timing of breeding, and the latter via differential mate preferences. We describe the potential significance of these
factors in the maintenance of reproductive isolation in a clade of triplefin fishes that occur sympatrically around coastal
New Zealand. Specifically, we investigate the roles of spawning time and nesting habitat in promoting opportunity isolation,
and of interspecific variation in male body length and breeding colouration in promoting recognition isolation. The triplefin
species investigated are reproductively active over several months and show high overlap in breeding times, thus rejecting
temporal isolation as a mechanism. Differences in nesting habitats resulted in a reduced probability of encounter between
some species, especially between sister-species pairs. Interspecific colour differences generally decreased during the reproductive
period, and males of sister-species pairs showed no interspecific colour differences in the ultraviolet light spectrum, thus
mate selection based on male colour patterns is unlikely to lead to premating isolation. Finally, males of closely related
triplefin species differed in body length, a secondary sexual trait often involved in assortative mating. Thus, spatial differences
in nesting habitats reduce the chances of encountering allospecific mates, which may facilitate opportunity isolation and
differences in male length, possibly related to species-specific female selection on male body size, may lead to recognition
isolation. The combination of limited spatial overlap in nesting habitat and differences in male body size may facilitate
species assortative mating in sympatry or parapatry. |
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