Ecologically Mediated Hybrid Speciation in Rhagoletis

杂交已经被认为是植物物种形成的一种重要模式，但它与动物系统的相关性还不太清楚。在一种引进的杂草植物上发现了一种新的寄主相关果蝇（Rhagoletis）种群，可能是两种本地蝇种之间的杂交。本研究将结合群体遗传学、化学生态学和理论模型来研究导致新的行为和生态性状的杂交的关键因素。杂交蝇的种群将在不同的地理水平上进行比较，以寻找共同的进化史。寄主选择的化学生态学将定义杂种和亲本之间的变化，从而解释寄主向新植物的转移。理论模型将把这些因素联系在一起，以解释杂交如何促进宿主的转移，新的杂交分类单元如何在其宿主的范围内传播，以及这个特定的例子在生物学中可能更普遍的程度。这些活动与包括农业害虫在内的新物种如何在自然界中出现有关。该项目还将提高对入侵物种对本地动物群影响的认识水平。学生将接受不同层次的培训，从K-12到外展活动，再到大学本科生、研究生和研究项目的研究生。

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.