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Oviposition traits generate extrinsic postzygotic isolation between two pine sawfly species.

Author
Abstract
:

Although empirical data indicate that ecological speciation is prevalent in nature, the relative importance of different forms of reproductive isolation and the traits generating reproductive isolation remain unclear. To address these questions, we examined a pair of ecologically divergent pine-sawfly species: while Neodiprion pinetum specializes on a thin-needled pine (Pinus strobus), N. lecontei utilizes thicker-needled pines. We hypothesized that extrinsic postzygotic isolation is generated by oviposition traits. To test this hypothesis, we assayed ovipositor morphology, oviposition behavior, and host-dependent oviposition success in both species and in F1 and backcross females.

Year of Publication
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2017
Journal
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BMC evolutionary biology
Volume
:
17
Issue
:
1
Number of Pages
:
26
Date Published
:
2017
URL
:
https://bmcevolbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12862-017-0872-8
DOI
:
10.1186/s12862-017-0872-8
Short Title
:
BMC Evol Biol
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