Vincent Salvolianen - Sympatric Speciation in Palms

Question 1

Salvolianen et al. 2006

Answer 1

Sympatric speciation between 2 palms species on Lord Howe Island - An exciting and convincing example of an incidence of sympatric speciation

Question 2

Coyne & Orr 2004

Answer 2

Allopatric speciation is well documented, sympatric speciation much less so.
4 Criteria for SS:
- Species currently in sympatry
- Sister group relationship
- Reproductive isolation
- Prior allopatric even is highly unlikely

Question 3

Gavrilets 2003

Answer 3

Speciation without geographical isolation is highly controversial

Question 4

Papadopulos et al. 2011

Answer 4

Sympatric speciation may account for up to 1 in 5 endemic plant species on Lord Howe Island - maybe enabled by heterogenous habitat of island due to great variance in elevation etc.

Question 5

Implications & applications of work

Answer 5

If we learn how species separate, we may also infer how they re-merge (e.g. through changing flowering times of these palm species due to climate change, causing increased rates of hybridisation). This would be important for conservation planning & predicting effects of an altered climate or geography on tclosely related species.
Also, a deeper understanding of how species can come to be, a greater grasp of how biodiversity can develop

Question 6

Servedo et al. 2011

Grant & Grant 2003

Answer 6

A trait that reproductively isolates a population but also confers a survival advantage, encouraging speciation.. e.g. Diet shift in Darwins finches altered bill size, but by extension also altered mating calls.

Question 7

Bush 1994

Answer 7

hawthorn maggot (fly) changing host to apple - example of sympatric speciation

Question 8

Sorenson et al. 2003

Answer 8

African indigo birds changing host and also call (females select males based on ability to imitate call of hose) - example of magic trait