Gene flow in Dubautia arborea and D. ciliolata: the roles of ecology and isolation by distance in maintaining species boundaries despite ongoing hybridization

Author:

Friar, E.A., Cruse-Sanders, J.M., McGlaughlin, M.E.

Title:

Gene flow in Dubautia arborea and D. ciliolata: the roles of ecology and isolation by distance in maintaining species boundaries despite ongoing hybridization

Periodical:

Molecular Ecology

Year:

2007

Volume:

16

Pages:

4028-4038

Subject:

Silverswords Mauna Kea Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp. sandwicense Ahinahina Genetic variation Dubautia

Summary:

The authors examine gene flow and population differentiation among populations of two species of the Hawaiian silversword alliance, Dubautia arborea and D. ciliolata and compare divergence in putatively neutral microsatellite markers with divergence in leaf morphometric traits. Gene flow between populations was found to be significant in only one of the two species, D. arborea. Gene flow as measured by microsatellites was not correlated with geographic distance between populations, but was correlated with the linear placement of the widest part of the leaf. Because these two species are interfertile, as demonstrated by the presence of active hybrid zone, the lack of genetic introgression and the maintenance of species boundaries may be associated with natural selection on differential habitat.

Label:

Silverswords

Date:

October 2007

Collection:

Periodicals