Title
Phenotypic and Genetic Divergence among Poison Frog Populations in a Mimetic Radiation
Date Issued
06 February 2013
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Twomey E.
Yeager J.
Brown J.
Cummings M.
Summers K.
Publisher(s)
Public Library of Science
Abstract
The evolution of Müllerian mimicry is, paradoxically, associated with high levels of diversity in color and pattern. In a mimetic radiation, different populations of a species evolve to resemble different models, which can lead to speciation. Yet there are circumstances under which initial selection for divergence under mimicry may be reversed. Here we provide evidence for the evolution of extensive phenotypic divergence in a mimetic radiation in Ranitomeya imitator, the mimic poison frog, in Peru. Analyses of color hue (spectral reflectance) and pattern reveal substantial divergence between morphs. However, we also report that there is a "transition-zone" with mixed phenotypes. Analyses of genetic structure using microsatellite variation reveals some differentiation between populations, but this does not strictly correspond to color pattern divergence. Analyses of gene flow between populations suggest that, while historical levels of gene flow were low, recent levels are high in some cases, including substantial gene flow between some color pattern morphs. We discuss possible explanations for these observations. © 2013 Twomey et al.
Volume
8
Issue
2
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Conservación de la Biodiversidad Zoología, Ornitología, Entomología, ciencias biológicas del comportamiento
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84873532258
PubMed ID
Source
PLoS ONE
ISSN of the container
19326203
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus