Molecular and Ecological Characterization of Hybridization Between Naturalized Sunfish (Lepomis) Species in Calder Lake
Abstract
The understanding of speciation is fundamental to the study of evolution. Speciation is often seen as a process in which diverging lineages become more distinct over time. Studies concerning groups such as Lepomis, in which there are varying degrees of divergence and hybridization between taxa, allow researchers to explore species boundaries and isolation mechanisms. In this study, I used molecular and genetic tools to characterize hybridization between two sunfish species, L. auritus and L. gibbosus in a New York Lake. I observed low levels of hybridization across years, indicating sufficient isolating mechanisms to maintain species boundaries. Pre- and post- mating isolating mechanisms involving sexual selection seem to maintain species boundaries in this system. Overall, this study provides valuable insight into hybridization between a species pair relatively absent from the literature which may be added to a growing body of knowledge of sunfish hybridization.
Subject Area
Ecology|Genetics|Limnology
Recommended Citation
Flamio, Richard, "Molecular and Ecological Characterization of Hybridization Between Naturalized Sunfish (Lepomis) Species in Calder Lake" (2017). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI10605949.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI10605949
