Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Tests of reproductive isolation among species in the Fundulus notatus (Cyprinodontiformes: Fundulidae) species complex

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Evolutionary Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We assessed prezygotic (probability of spawning) and postzygotic (hatching success) reproductive isolation among the three ecologically and morphologically similar species in the Fundulus notatus species complex. We employed a multi-generation breeding experiment to test the hypotheses that karyotypic differences, body size differences, or geographic isolation among populations will increase pre or postzygotic reproductive barriers. Overall, prezygotic barriers were strong and postzygotic barriers weak in crosses of non-hybrid heterospecifics (F1 hybrid crosses) while prezygotic barriers were weaker and postzygotic barriers stronger in crosses involving hybrid individuals (F2 hybrid crosses and backcrosses). Prezygotic barriers among the two smaller species (Fundulus notatus and F. euryzonus) broke down rapidly; first generation hybrids spawned (F2 hybrid crosses and backcrosses) as frequently as parental forms in intraspecific crosses. There was no increase in postzygotic barriers among species with cytogenetic differences. There were increased prezygotic, but not postzygotic, barriers among geographically isolated populations of one species. While pure males and females were just as likely to spawn with hybrids, some types of hybrid females suffered from increased sterility, but not inviability, over hybrid males. Female sterility was only seen in hybrids with a Fundulus euryzonus parent, while other female hybrids produced viable eggs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexandrino J, Baird SJ, Lawson L, Macey JR, Moritz C, Wake DB (2005) Strong selection against hybrids at a hybrid zone in the Ensatina ring species complex and its evolutionary implications. Evolution 59(6):1334–1347

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardi G, Powers DA (1995) Phylogenetic relationships among nine species from the genus Fundulus (Cyprinodontiformes, Fundulidae) inferred from sequences of the Cytochrome b gene. Copeia 1995:469–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black A, Howell WM (1978) A distinctive chromosomal race of the cypinodontid fish, Fundulus notatus, from the upper Tombigbee River system of Alabama and Mississippi. Copeia 1978:280–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard TA (1996) Oviarian cycles and microhabitat use in two species of topminnow, Fundulus olivaceus and F. euryzonus, from the southern United States. Env Biol Fish 47:155–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolnick DI, Near TJ, Wainwright PC (2006) Body size divergence promotes post-zygotic reproductive isolation in centrarchids. Evol Ecol Res 8:903–913

    Google Scholar 

  • Braasch ME, Smith PW (1965) Relationships of the topminnows Fundulus notatus and Fundulus olivaceus in the upper Mississippi River valley. Copeia 1965:46–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronson CL, Grubb TC Jr, Braun MJ (2003) A test of the endogenous and exogenous selection hypotheses for the maintenance of a narrow avian hybrid zone. Evolution 57(3):630–637

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen TR (1971) A comparative chromosome study of twenty killifish species of the genus Fundulus (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae). Chromosoma 32:436–453

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne JA, Orr HA (1998) The evolutionary genetics of speciation. Phil Trans R Soc Lond B 353(1366):287–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne JA, Simeonidis S, Rooney P (1998) Relative paucity of genes causing inviability in hybrids between Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans. Genetics 150:1091–1103

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cuca GC (1976) A comparative study of chromosomal and protein variation in two hybridizing fish species Fundulus olivaceus and Fundulus notatus. Thesis, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

  • Duvernell DD, Schaefer JF, Hancks DC, Fonoti JA, Ravanelli AM (2007) Hybridization and reproductive isolation among syntopic populations of the topminnows Fundulus notatus and F. olivaceus. J Evol Biol 20:152–164

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebeling AB, Chen TR (1970) Heterogametry in teleostean fishes. Trans Am Fish Soc 99:131–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gavrilets S, Arnqvist G, Friberg U (2001) The evolution of female mate choice by sexual conflict. Proc R Soc Lond B 268:531–539

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gregersen F, Haugen TO, Larsen ØN (2006) Egg size differentiation among sympatric demes of brown trout: possible effects of density-dependent interactions among fry. Ecol Fw Fish 15(3):237–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard DJ, Preszler RW, Williams J, Finchel S, Boecklen WJ (1997) How discrete are Oak Species? Insights from a hybrid zone between Quercus grisea and Quercus gambeli. Evolution 51(3):747–755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell WM, Black A (1981) Karyotypes in populations of the cyprinodontid fishes of the Fundulus notatus Species complex: a geographic analysis. Bull Al Mus Nat Hist 6:19–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurt CR, Farzin M, Hedrick PW (2005) Premating, not postmating, barriers drive genetic dynamics in experimental hybrid populations of the endangered Sonoran topminnow. Genetics 171:655–662

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiggins CD, Mallet J (2000) Bimodal hybrid zones and speciation. Trends Ecol Evol 15(6):250–255

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jiggins CD, McMillan WO, King P, Mallet J (1997) The maintenance of species across a Heliconius hybrid zone. Heredity 79:495–505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kornfield I (1981) Distribution of constitutive heterochromatin and the evolution of sex chromosomes in Fundulus. Copeia 1981:916–918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee DS, Gilbert CR, Hocutt CH, Jenkins RE, McAllister DE, Stauffer JR (1980) Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina Biological Survey, Raleigh, NC

    Google Scholar 

  • Markow TA, Ricker JP (1991) Developmental stability in hybrids between the sibling species pair, Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans. Genetica 84:115–121

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKinnon JS, Mori S, Blackman BK, David L, Kingsley DM, Jamieson L, Chou J, Schluter D (2004) Evidence for ecology’s role in speciation. Nature 429:294–298

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendelson TC (2003) Sexual isolation evolves faster than hybrid inviability in a diverse and sexually dimorphic genus of fish (Percidae: Etheostoma). Evolution 57(2):317–327

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Milne RI, Terzioglu S, Abbott RJ (2003) A hybrid zone dominated by fertile F1s: maintenance of species barriers in Rhododendron. Mol Ecol 12(10):2719–2729

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan-Richards M, Wallis GP (2003) A comparison of five hybrid zones of the weta Hemideina thoracica (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae): degree of cytogenetic differentiation fails to predict zone width. Evolution 57(4):849–861

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morin RP, Able KW (1983) Patterns of geographic variation in the egg morphology of the Fundulid fish, Fundulus heteroclitus. Copeia 1983:726–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orr HA (1997) Haldane’s rule. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 28:195–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross ST (2001) Inland fishes of Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi, Jackson

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubidge EM, Taylor EB (2004) Hybrid zone structure and the potential role of selection in hybridizing populations of native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) and introduced rainbow trout (O. mykiss). Mol Ecol 13(12):3735–3749

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schluter D (2001) Ecology and the origin of species. Trends Ecol Evol 16(7):372–380

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Setzer PY (1970) An analysis of a natural hybrid swarm by means of chromosome morphology. Trans Am Fish Soc 99(1):139–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomerson JE (1966) A comparative biosystematic study of Fundulus notatus and Fundulus olivaceus (Pices: Cyprinodontidae). Tulane Stud Zool 13:29–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomerson JE (1967) Hybrids between the cyprinodontid fishes, Fundulus notatus and Fundulus olivaceus in Southern Illinois. Trans IL State Acad Sci 60:375–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomerson JE, Woolridge DP (1970) Food habits of allotopic and syntopic populations of the topminnows Fundulus olivaceus and Fundulus notatus. Am Mid Nat 84(2):573–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uwadiegwu KE, Haas R, Turner BJ (1985) A multiple sex chromosome system in the annual killifish, Nothobranchius guentheri. Copeia 1985:503–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uyeno T, Miller RR, Fitzsimons JM (1983) Karyology of the cyprinodontoid fishes of the Mexican family Goodeidae. Copeia 1983:497–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Via S (2001) Sympatric speciation in animals: the ugly duckling grows up. Trends Ecol Evol 16(7):381–390

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiley EO (1986) A study of the evolutionary relationships of Fundulus topminnows (Teleostei: Fundulidae). Am Zool 26:121–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong BM, Jennings MD (2003) Costs influence male mate choice in a freshwater fish. Proc R Soc Lond B 27:S36–S38

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi for supporting this work. We also thank P. Mickle, J. Spaeth, K. Persons, P. Brunkow, B. Zuber and T. Darden for help with field collections and animal care.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Dr., #5018, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA

    Jacob F. Schaefer & Brian R. Kreiser

  2. Department of Biology, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL, 62026, USA

    David D. Duvernell

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA

    Patrick A. Vigueira

Authors
  1. Patrick A. Vigueira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jacob F. Schaefer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David D. Duvernell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Brian R. Kreiser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacob F. Schaefer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vigueira, P.A., Schaefer, J.F., Duvernell, D.D. et al. Tests of reproductive isolation among species in the Fundulus notatus (Cyprinodontiformes: Fundulidae) species complex. Evol Ecol 22, 55–70 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-007-9158-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-007-9158-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation