Natural Selection on Mate Recognition in Field Populations of Drosophila serrata

自然选择对配偶的识别被认为在物种形成过程中起着重要作用。在它们分布重叠的地区，密切相关物种之间更强烈的交配歧视，被称为生殖特征置换，这表明自然选择加强了交配识别。锯齿果蝇在与其同源的伯氏果蝇旁边的区域表现出生殖特征的移位。利用分子和数量遗传技术相结合的方法，我将研究锯缘扇贝自然种群的生殖特征置换是如何进化的。具体地说，将评估自然选择在产生这种模式中所起的作用。

Natural selection on mate recognition is thought to play an important role in the process of speciation. Stronger mating discrimination between closely related species in areas where their distributions overlap, referred to as reproductive character displacement, suggests that mate recognition has been reinforced by natural selection. Drosophila serrata displays reproductive character displacement in areas where it occurs alongside the congener D. birchii. Using a combination of molecular and quantitative genetic techniques I will investigate how reproductive character displacement has evolved in natural populations of D. serrata. Specifically, the role that natural selection has played in generating this pattern will be evaluated.