Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Sexual selection can constrain sympatric speciation.

Mark Kirkpatrick1, Scott L Nuismer

  • 1Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA. kirkp@mail.utexas.edu

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|June 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Sympatric speciation is hindered when rare traits reduce mating success, creating stabilizing sexual selection. This challenges theories assuming equal mating success in assortative mating models.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Evaluating vectors for the design of a spillover-disrupting Lassa virus transmissible vaccine.

PLoS computational biology·2026
Same author

Interepidemic Rift Valley fever in East Africa: the recent risk landscape and projected impacts of global change.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same author

<i>Acropora millepora</i> 's microbiome is predicted by algal symbionts, host genetics, and environment.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Integrating Ethnography and Structural Equation Modelling to Assess Brucellosis Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices among Pastoralist Communities in Kenya.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2025
Same author

Hyperendemicity of Rift Valley Fever in Southwestern Uganda Associated With the Rapidly Evolving Lineage C Viruses.

The Journal of infectious diseases·2025
Same author

Serosurveillance Identifies an Endemic Hotspot of Lassa Fever in Faranah, Upper Guinea.

The Journal of infectious diseases·2025

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Speciation research

Background:

  • Sympatric speciation models often assume equal mating success.
  • Assortative mating among ecologically similar individuals is a proposed driver of sympatric speciation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how decreased mating success of rare phenotypes impacts sympatric speciation.
  • To determine if stabilizing sexual selection generated by assortative mating impedes speciation.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling of sympatric speciation.
  • Incorporation of non-equal mating success based on phenotype rarity.

Main Results:

  • Assortative mating can generate stabilizing sexual selection.
  • This stabilizing selection substantially impedes the process of sympatric speciation.

Conclusions:

  • The assumption of equal mating success in sympatric speciation models may be unrealistic.
  • Empirical data on the strength of mating-generated selection in natural populations is crucial for understanding speciation.

Related Experiment Videos