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Genetic divergence among sympatric colour morphs of the Dalmatian wall lizard (Podarcis melisellensis)

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Abstract

If alternative phenotypes in polymorphic populations do not mate randomly, they can be used as model systems to study adaptive diversification and possibly the early stages of sympatric speciation. In this case, non random mating is expected to support genetic divergence among the different phenotypes. In the present study, we use population genetic analyses to test putatively neutral genetic divergence (of microsatellite loci) among three colour morphs of the lizard Podarcis melisellensis, which is associated with differences in male morphology, performance and behaviour. We found weak evidence of genetic divergence, indicating that gene flow is somewhat restricted among morphs and suggesting possible adaptive diversification.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank W.J. Etges and two anonymous reviewers for comments on earlier versions of this paper. We also thank Karin Breugelmans (RBINS) for help in the lab and Patricija Okovič for help in the field. Bieke Vanhooydonck is a postdoctoral fellow of FWO-Vl. Samples were collected under permit no. 532-08-01/6-06-02 issued by the Croatian Ministry of Culture. This work was funded by an FWO-Vl research grant G.0111.06, a research grant of the University of Antwerp (BOF), and the Joint Experimental Molecular Unit (JEMU) at the RBINS.

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  1. K. Huyghe

    Present address: Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium

    K. Huyghe, B. Vanhooydonck, R. Van Damme & T. Backeljau

  2. Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA, 98502, USA

    M. Small

  3. Département d’Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N, 57 rue Cuvier, Case postale 55, 75231, Paris Cedex 5, France

    A. Herrel

  4. Department of Animal Physiology, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia

    Z. Tadić

  5. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    T. Backeljau

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  1. K. Huyghe
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Correspondence to K. Huyghe.

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Huyghe, K., Small, M., Vanhooydonck, B. et al. Genetic divergence among sympatric colour morphs of the Dalmatian wall lizard (Podarcis melisellensis). Genetica 138, 387–393 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-010-9435-2

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