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Speciation reversal and biodiversity dynamics with hybridization in changing environments.

Authors :
Seehausen O
Takimoto G
Roy D
Jokela J
Source :
Molecular ecology [Mol Ecol] 2008 Jan; Vol. 17 (1), pp. 30-44. Date of Electronic Publication: 2007 Nov 22.
Publication Year :
2008

Abstract

A considerable fraction of the world's biodiversity is of recent evolutionary origin and has evolved as a by-product of, and is maintained by, divergent adaptation in heterogeneous environments. Conservationists have paid attention to genetic homogenization caused by human-induced translocations (e.g. biological invasions and stocking), and to the importance of environmental heterogeneity for the ecological coexistence of species. However, far less attention has been paid to the consequences of loss of environmental heterogeneity to the genetic coexistence of sympatric species. Our review of empirical observations and our theoretical considerations on the causes and consequences of interspecific hybridization suggest that a loss of environmental heterogeneity causes a loss of biodiversity through increased genetic admixture, effectively reversing speciation. Loss of heterogeneity relaxes divergent selection and removes ecological barriers to gene flow between divergently adapted species, promoting interspecific introgressive hybridization. Since heterogeneity of natural environments is rapidly deteriorating in most biomes, the evolutionary ecology of speciation reversal ought to be fully integrated into conservation biology.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0962-1083
Volume :
17
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Molecular ecology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
18034800
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03529.x