Multiplicative selection for the use of host plants and host induced
phenotypic plasticity shaping phytophagous specialists in the face of
gene flow
Abstract
Ecological specialisation has been an attractive topic in its
relationship with biological diversification. However, there is little
knowledge about how much niche specialisation itself promotes
speciation, and how they maintain boundary of specialists. To elucidate
the issue, we conducted a simple rearing experiment using F1 and
backcross generations of two specialist host races of the phytophagous
ladybird beetle Henosepilachna diekei, with special attention to host
search efficiency and host fidelity. The results showed that divergence
in numerous ecological traits that were mostly resulted in divergent
natural selection multiplicatively reduced hybrid fitness and maintained
current specialisation in both pre-/post-mating stages. Also, larval
feeding experience influences host choice in F1 hybrid adults, and it
appears in the face of gene flow and reduces further gene exchange. This
speciation event show that multiple ecological traits adaptive to
different host plants synthetically shape divergent specialists without
other isolating barriers.