Meta-analysis reveals that phenotypic plasticity and divergent selection promote reproductive isolation during incipient speciation
Jarrett, Benjamin J.M. LU ; Downing, Philip A. LU and Svensson, Erik I. LU
(2025)
In Nature Ecology and Evolution
9(5).
p.833-844
- Abstract
The evolution of reproductive isolation is a key evolutionary process, but the factors that shape its development in the early stages of speciation require clarification. Here, using a meta-analysis of 34 experimental speciation studies on arthropods, yeast and vertebrates, we show that populations subject to divergent selection evolved stronger reproductive isolation compared with populations that evolved in similar environments, consistent with ecological speciation theory. However, and contrary to predictions, reproductive isolation did not increase with the number of generations. Phenotypic plasticity could partly explain these results as divergent environments induce a plastic increase in reproductive isolation greater than the... (More)
The evolution of reproductive isolation is a key evolutionary process, but the factors that shape its development in the early stages of speciation require clarification. Here, using a meta-analysis of 34 experimental speciation studies on arthropods, yeast and vertebrates, we show that populations subject to divergent selection evolved stronger reproductive isolation compared with populations that evolved in similar environments, consistent with ecological speciation theory. However, and contrary to predictions, reproductive isolation did not increase with the number of generations. Phenotypic plasticity could partly explain these results as divergent environments induce a plastic increase in reproductive isolation greater than the effect of divergent selection, but only for pre-mating isolating barriers. Our results highlight that adaptive evolution in response to different environments in conjunction with plasticity can initiate a rapid increase in reproductive isolation in the early stage of speciation.
(Less)
- author
- Jarrett, Benjamin J.M.
LU
; Downing, Philip A.
LU
and Svensson, Erik I.
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-05
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Nature Ecology and Evolution
- volume
- 9
- issue
- 5
- pages
- 12 pages
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:40350540
- scopus:105004668117
- ISSN
- 2397-334X
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41559-025-02687-7
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 56945377-614c-433a-b563-94afb5d32927
- date added to LUP
- 2025-08-01 10:34:15
- date last changed
- 2025-08-02 02:51:04
@article{56945377-614c-433a-b563-94afb5d32927,
abstract = {{<p>The evolution of reproductive isolation is a key evolutionary process, but the factors that shape its development in the early stages of speciation require clarification. Here, using a meta-analysis of 34 experimental speciation studies on arthropods, yeast and vertebrates, we show that populations subject to divergent selection evolved stronger reproductive isolation compared with populations that evolved in similar environments, consistent with ecological speciation theory. However, and contrary to predictions, reproductive isolation did not increase with the number of generations. Phenotypic plasticity could partly explain these results as divergent environments induce a plastic increase in reproductive isolation greater than the effect of divergent selection, but only for pre-mating isolating barriers. Our results highlight that adaptive evolution in response to different environments in conjunction with plasticity can initiate a rapid increase in reproductive isolation in the early stage of speciation.</p>}},
author = {{Jarrett, Benjamin J.M. and Downing, Philip A. and Svensson, Erik I.}},
issn = {{2397-334X}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{5}},
pages = {{833--844}},
publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
series = {{Nature Ecology and Evolution}},
title = {{Meta-analysis reveals that phenotypic plasticity and divergent selection promote reproductive isolation during incipient speciation}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02687-7}},
doi = {{10.1038/s41559-025-02687-7}},
volume = {{9}},
year = {{2025}},
}