Pre-reproductive isolation as a consequence of allopatric differentiation between populations of Drosophila melanogaster

W. Haerty, M. Lesbats, P. Capy

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12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

While pre-reproductive isolations are more and more frequently described between closely related species or within species, very little is known about their conditions of emergence. In Brazzaville, two populations (Kronenbourg and Loua) of Drosophila melanogaster show a premating isolation. Two hypotheses were proposed to explain such a situation: a local sympatric differentiation or an allopatric divergence followed by a secondary contact. A microsatellite analysis, using markers on all chromosomes, strongly suggests that the Kronenbourg population has a European origin. Therefore, the allopatric divergence between Kronenbourg and Loua populations is probably responsible for the sexual isolation observed today in sympatry, after a recent introduction of a European propagule in Brazzaville.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3801-3807
Number of pages7
JournalMolecular Ecology
Volume14
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2005

Keywords

  • Allopatric differentiation
  • Drosophila melanogaster
  • Microsatellites
  • Reproductive isolation
  • Secondary contact

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