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Sympatric speciation by allochrony?
  • Neil Rosser,
  • Fernando Seixas,
  • James Mallet
Neil Rosser
Harvard University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Fernando Seixas
Harvard University
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James Mallet
Harvard University
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Abstract

Sympatric speciation was once thought most improbable, but careful study of some systems, particularly the apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella) and related Rhagoletis species has led to a re-evaluation of its likelihood. Different species and host races in this clade of flies often have highly specialized host preference, and along with frequent evolutionary shifts to different fruit species between sister taxa, there is a likely effect of the timing of adult emergence that follows host fruiting phenology. This is known as “allochronic” isolation (from the Greek, meaning “different timing”). This overview covers recent discoveries by Inskeep et al. (2021) showing how allochrony is a major factor in preventing gene flow between a pair of sister species of Rhagoletis on different host fruits. Although the authors do not claim to prove sympatric speciation, it does seem very likely, and the work clearly underscores how readily host shifts via allochrony can aid sympatric speciation.
19 Apr 2022Submitted to Molecular Ecology
20 Apr 2022Assigned to Editor
20 Apr 2022Submission Checks Completed
02 May 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Jun 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Aug 2022Published in Molecular Ecology volume 31 issue 15 on pages 3975-3978. 10.1111/mec.16599