Editor's Summary
2 October 2008
Speciation in colour: a textbook example of evolution in action
The cichlid fish of African lakes are textbook examples of rapid speciation but the mechanisms involved remain elusive. Observations of the cichlids in Lake Victoria now demonstrate the ecological and molecular basis of divergent evolution of the visual system (seen as divergence of vision genes, male coloration and female preferences) leading to speciation by sensory drive through interacting natural and sexual selection. The sensory drive hypothesis predicts that divergent adaptation in sensory and signalling systems to different environments can cause premating isolation between populations. As well as providing clear evidence that speciation can occur through sensory drive without geographical isolation, this work provides a mechanistic explanation for the collapse of cichlid fish species diversity during the anthropogenic eutrophication of Lake Victoria.
News and Views: Sensory ecology: In sight of speciation
Adaptation of a fish's eyes to its visual environment can bias females to mate with different males according to their coloration. This sensory preference can contribute to the formation of new species.
Mark Kirkpatrick & Trevor Price
doi:10.1038/455601a
Article: Speciation through sensory drive in cichlid fish
Ole Seehausen, Yohey Terai, Isabel S. Magalhaes, Karen L. Carleton, Hillary D. J. Mrosso, Ryutaro Miyagi, Inke van der Sluijs, Maria V. Schneider, Martine E. Maan, Hidenori Tachida, Hiroo Imai & Norihiro Okada
doi:10.1038/nature07285
Abstract | Full Text | PDF (547K) | Supplementary information
