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Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.

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A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

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Ecological explanations for (incomplete) speciation.

Patrik Nosil¹, Luke J Harmon, Ole Seehausen

¹Zoology Department and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. patrik.nosil@wiko-berlin.de

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

|February 3, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Divergent natural selection initiates speciation but often fails to complete it. The completeness of speciation may depend on whether selection acts strongly on one trait or across multiple traits.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Speciation research

Background:

Divergent natural selection is a key driver of speciation.
Speciation is frequently initiated but not completed by divergent selection.

Purpose of the Study:

To review evidence on how the nature of divergent selection influences the completeness of speciation.
To explore the roles of 'stronger selection' and 'multifarious selection' hypotheses.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent evidence on divergent selection and speciation.
Analysis of factors affecting the variability in speciation outcomes.

Main Results:

Variability in speciation completeness may be linked to the characteristics of divergent selection.
Two hypotheses proposed: stronger selection on a single trait and multifarious selection across multiple traits.

Conclusions:

The nature of divergent selection, specifically its strength and the number of traits involved, can impact speciation completion.
Further research is needed to validate these hypotheses and determine their relative importance in speciation.