Female preference for male color is necessary and sufficient for assortative mating in 2 cichlid sister species

摘要: A critical step for speciation in the face of gene flow is origination reproductive isolation. The evolution assortative mating greatly facilitates this process. Assortative can be mediated by one or multiple cues across an array sensory modalities. We here explore possible that may underlie female mate choice a sympatric species pair cichlid fish from Lake Victoria, Pundamilia pundamilia and nyererei. Previous studies identified species-specific preferences male coloration, but effects other could not ruled out. Therefore, we assessed series experiments which manipulated visual (color) chemical cues. We show visibility differences nuptial hue (i.e., either blue red) between males 2 necessary sufficient choice. Such assortment single cue evolve relatively quickly, make isolation vulnerable to environmental changes. These findings confirm important role promoting explosive African haplochromine cichlids.