Ecologically Mediated Hybrid Speciation in Rhagoletis

杂交已被认为是植物物种形成的一种重要模式，但其与动物系统的相关性尚不清楚。 一个新的主机相关的果蝇（Rhagoletis）人口引进的杂草植物可能是两个本地蝇种之间的杂交。 本研究将结合联合收割机群体遗传学、化学生态学和理论模型来研究导致新的行为和生态特征的杂交的关键因素。 将在不同的地理水平上比较杂交蝇的种群，以寻找共同的进化历史。 寄主选择的化学生态学将定义杂交种与其亲本之间的变化，这些变化解释了寄主向新植物的转移。 理论模型将把这些因素联系在一起，解释杂交如何促进宿主的转移，新的杂交类群如何在其宿主范围内传播，以及这个具体例子在生物学中的普遍程度，这些活动与新物种（包括农业害虫）如何在自然界中出现有关。 该项目还将提高人们对入侵物种对本地动物的影响的认识。 学生将接受各种级别的培训，从K-12通过推广活动到大学本科生，研究生和研究生通过研究项目。

Hybridization has been recognized as an important mode of speciation in plants, but its relevance to animal systems has been less clear. A new host-associated fruit fly (Rhagoletis) population on an introduced weedy plant is likely a hybrid between two native fly species. This study will combine population genetics, chemical ecology, and theoretical modeling to examine the key elements of hybridization that led to novel behavioral and ecological traits. Populations of the hybrid fly will be compared at different geographic levels to look for a common evolutionary history. The chemical ecology of host choice will define changes between the hybrids and its parents that explain a host shift to a new plant. The theoretical model will tie these elements together to explain how hybridization facilitated a host shift, how the new hybrid taxon has spread throughout the range of its host, and the extent to which this specific example may be more general in biology.These activities are relevant to how new species, including agricultural pests, may arise in nature. This project will also increase the level of understanding of the impact of invasive species on native fauna. Students will be trained at a variety of levels, from K-12 through outreach activities to university undergraduates, graduates, and postgraduates through research projects.