Rapid speciation via the evolution of pre-mating isolation in the Iberá Seedeater

Article

Authorship

Turbek, Sheela P. ; BROWNE, MELANIE ; DI GIACOMO, ADRIAN SANTIAGO ; KOPUCHIAN, CECILIA ; Hochachka, Wesley Michael ; Estalles, María Cecilia ; LIJTMAER, DARIO ALEJANDRO ; TUBARO, PABLO LUIS ; Silveira, Luís Fábio ; Lovette, Irby ; Safran, Rebecca J. ; Taylor, Scott A. ; Campagna, Leonardo

Date

2021

Publishing House and Editing Place

AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE

Magazine

SCIENCE, vol. 371 (pp. 1-12) AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE

Summary Information provided by the agent in SIGEVA

Behavioral isolation can catalyze speciation and permit the slow accumulation of additional reproductive barriers between co-occurring organisms. We illustrate how this process occurs by examining the genomic and behavioral bases of pre-mating isolation between two bird species (Sporophila hypoxantha and the recently discovered S. iberaensis) that belong to the southern capuchino seedeaters, a recent, rapid radiation characterized by variation in male plumage coloration and song. Although these... Behavioral isolation can catalyze speciation and permit the slow accumulation of additional reproductive barriers between co-occurring organisms. We illustrate how this process occurs by examining the genomic and behavioral bases of pre-mating isolation between two bird species (Sporophila hypoxantha and the recently discovered S. iberaensis) that belong to the southern capuchino seedeaters, a recent, rapid radiation characterized by variation in male plumage coloration and song. Although these two species co-occur without obvious ecological barriers to reproduction, we document behaviors indicating species recognition by song and plumage traits and strong assortative mating associated with genomic regions underlying male plumage patterning. Plumage differentiation likely originated through the reassembly of standing genetic variation, indicating how novel sexual signals may quickly arise and maintain species boundaries.