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Genetic linkage of ecological specialization and reproductive isolation in pea aphids

Nature volume 412, pages 904–907 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The evolution of ecological specialization generates biological diversity and may lead to speciation1,2,3. Genetic architecture can either speed or retard this process. If resource use and mate choice have a common genetic basis through pleiotropy or close linkage, the resulting genetic correlations can promote the joint evolution of specialization and reproductive isolation, facilitating speciation4,5,6. Here we present a model of the role of genetic correlations in specialization and speciation, and test it by analysing the genetic architecture of key traits in two highly specialized host races of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum pisum; Hemiptera : Aphididae). We found several complexes of pleiotropic or closely linked quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect key traits in ways that would promote speciation: QTL with antagonistic effects on performance on the two hosts are linked to QTL that produce asortative mating (through habitat choice). This type of genetic architecture may be common in taxa that have speciated under divergent natural selection.

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Figure 1: Network of complementary genetic correlations affecting specialization and speciation.
Figure 2: Linkage map of pea aphid, with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for ecological specialization and reproductive isolation.

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Acknowledgements

We thank G. Churchill, D. Schemske, D. Schluter and Z.-B. Zeng for discussions. M. Arnold, T. Bradshaw, J. Conner, K. Shaw and J. Wilkinson provided useful comments on the manuscript. Z.-B. Zeng provided the calculation from ref. 22, and R. Lande pointed out the effects of cyclical parthenogenesis on recombination rates. A. Bouck, S. Skillman, C. Olson and A. Badgley provided expert technical assistance. This work was supported by NSF and USDA grants to S.V. and D.J.H.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, 20742, Maryland, USA

    David J. Hawthorne & Sara Via

  2. Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, 20742, Maryland, USA

    Sara Via

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  1. David J. Hawthorne
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  2. Sara Via
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Correspondence to Sara Via.

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Hawthorne, D., Via, S. Genetic linkage of ecological specialization and reproductive isolation in pea aphids. Nature 412, 904–907 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35091062

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