Speciation through sensory drive in cichlid fish

Ole Seehausen (), Yohey Terai, Isabel S. Magalhaes, Karen L. Carleton, Hillary D. J. Mrosso, Ryutaro Miyagi, Inke van der Sluijs, Maria V. Schneider, Martine E. Maan, Hidenori Tachida, Hiroo Imai and Norihiro Okada ()
Additional contact information
Ole Seehausen: Institute of Zoology, University of Bern, Baltzerstr. 6, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Yohey Terai: Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
Isabel S. Magalhaes: Institute of Zoology, University of Bern, Baltzerstr. 6, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Karen L. Carleton: University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
Hillary D. J. Mrosso: Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, Mwanza Centre, PO Box 475 Mwanza, Tanzania
Ryutaro Miyagi: Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
Inke van der Sluijs: Institute of Biology, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
Maria V. Schneider: Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology, Centre of Ecology, Evolution & Biogeochemistry
Martine E. Maan: Institute of Biology, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
Hidenori Tachida: Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Ropponmatsu, Fukuoka 810-8560, Japan
Hiroo Imai: Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, 484-8506 Japan
Norihiro Okada: Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan

Nature, 2008, vol. 455, issue 7213, 620-626

Abstract: Abstract Theoretically, divergent selection on sensory systems can cause speciation through sensory drive. However, empirical evidence is rare and incomplete. Here we demonstrate sensory drive speciation within island populations of cichlid fish. We identify the ecological and molecular basis of divergent evolution in the cichlid visual system, demonstrate associated divergence in male colouration and female preferences, and show subsequent differentiation at neutral loci, indicating reproductive isolation. Evidence is replicated in several pairs of sympatric populations and species. Variation in the slope of the environmental gradients explains variation in the progress towards speciation: speciation occurs on all but the steepest gradients. This is the most complete demonstration so far of speciation through sensory drive without geographical isolation. Our results also provide a mechanistic explanation for the collapse of cichlid fish species diversity during the anthropogenic eutrophication of Lake Victoria.

Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1038/nature07285

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