Abstract
SEXUAL isolation is considered to be among the most important factors that prevent or inhibit interspecific matings and that maintain species integrity among many animal species1–3. Sexual isolation may result when animals are capable of discriminating between members of their own species and those of other species. Such discrimination may be based on behavioural differences between species (ethological isolation). During the courtship the occurrence of incongruent actions may lead to a breaking off of courtship and/or failure to mate. Interspecific discrimination may also be based on species specific stimuli, auditory, visual or chemical (olfactory and tactile) in nature, which inhibit the elicitation of congruent mating behaviour between heterospecific partners.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dobzhansky, Th., Genetics and the Origin of Species (Columbia Univ. Press, NY, 1951).
Mayr, E., Animal Species and Evolution (Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1963).
Spieth, H. T., in Behavior and Evolution (edit. by Roe, A., and Simpson, G. G.), 363 (Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, 1958).
Mayr, E., Proc. US Nat. Acad. Sci., 32, 128 (1946).
Spieth, H. T., Behaviour, 3, 105 (1951).
Richards, O. W., Biol. Rev., 2, 298 (1927).
Bateman, A. J., Heredity, 2, 349 (1948).
Elens, A. A., and Wattiaux, J. M., Drosophila Information Series, 39, 118 (1964).
Malogolowkin-Cohen, Ch., Simmons, A. S., and Levene, H., Evolution, 19, 95 (1965).
Kessler, S., Evolution, 20, 634 (1966).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
KESSLER, S. Speed of Mating and Sexual Isolation in Drosophila. Nature 220, 1044–1045 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/2201044a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2201044a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
