Persistence of a Geographically-Stable Hybrid Zone in Puerto Rican Dwarf Geckos

Authors

Brendan J. Pinto, Marquette UniversityFollow
James Titus-McQuillan, University of Texas
Juan D. Daza, Sam Houston State University - Huntsville, TXFollow
Tony Gamble, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

7-2019

Publisher

Oxford Academic

Source Publication

Journal of Heredity

Source ISSN

0022-1503

Abstract

Determining the mechanisms that create and maintain biodiversity is a central question in ecology and evolution. Speciation is the process that creates biodiversity. Speciation is mediated by incompatibilities that lead to reproductive isolation between divergent populations and these incompatibilities can be observed in hybrid zones. Gecko lizards are a speciose clade possessing an impressive diversity of behavioral and morphological traits. In geckos, however, our understanding of the speciation process is negligible. To address this gap, we used genetic sequence data (both mitochondrial and nuclear markers) to revisit a putative hybrid zone between Sphaerodactylus nicholsi and Sphaerodactylus townsendi in Puerto Rico, initially described in 1984. First, we addressed discrepancies in the literature on the validity of both species. Second, we sampled a 10-km-wide transect across the putative hybrid zone and tested explicit predictions about its dynamics using cline models. Third, we investigated potential causes for the hybrid zone using species distribution modeling and simulations; namely, whether unique climatic variables within the hybrid zone might elicit selection for intermediate phenotypes. We find strong support for the species-level status of each species and no evidence of movement, or unique climatic variables near the hybrid zone. We suggest that this narrow hybrid zone is geographically stable and is maintained by a combination of dispersal and selection. Thus, this work has identified an extant model system within geckos that that can be used for future investigations detailing genetic mechanisms of reproductive isolation in an understudied vertebrate group.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Heredity, Vol. 110, No. 5 (July 2019): 523-534. DOI. © 2019 Oxford Academic. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Pinto, Brendan J.; Titus-McQuillan, James; Daza, Juan D.; and Gamble, Tony, "Persistence of a Geographically-Stable Hybrid Zone in Puerto Rican Dwarf Geckos" (2019). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 789.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/789