Adaptive, but not condition-dependent, body shape differences contribute to assortative mating preferences during ecological speciation

摘要: Assortative mating is critical for reproductive isolation during speciation; however, the mechanisms underlying preferences are often unknown. can be mediated through condition-dependent and adaptive ("magic") traits, but rigorously testing these hypotheses has been impeded by trait covariation in living organisms. We used computer-generated models to examine role of body shape producing association between fish populations undergoing ecological speciation different habitat types. demonstrate that serve as an (variation head size populations) a signal abdominal distention among individuals). Female stimuli varying only one aspect uncovered evidence magic across population pairs, no serving signal. Evolution females from type well stronger sympatric nonsulfidic opposed allopatric suggests reinforcement may have played observed patterns.