Turbellarian taxonomic database

Record # 22955
Author
Title
Journal
Singh P, Ballmer DN, Laubscher M, Scharer L (2020)
Successful mating and hybridisation in two closely related flatworm species despite significant differences in reproductive morphology and behaviour.
Scientific Reports, Volume:10 Issue:1 Pages:12830

Abstract / Notes

"Reproductive traits are some of the fastest diverging characters and can serve as reproductive barriers. The
free-living flatworm Macrostomum lignano, and its congener M. janickei are closely related, but differ
substantially in their male intromittent organ (stylet) morphology. Here, we examine whether these
morphological differences are accompanied by differences in behavioural traits, and whether these could
represent barriers to successful mating and hybridization between the two species. Our data shows that the two
species differ in many aspects of their mating behaviour. Despite these differences, the species mate readily
with each other in heterospecific pairings. Although both species have similar fecundity in conspecific
pairings, the heterospecific pairings revealed clear postmating barriers, as few heterospecific pairings
produced F1 hybrids. These hybrids had a stylet morphology that was intermediate between that of the parental
species, and they were fertile. Finally, using a mate choice experiment, we show that the nearly two-fold
higher mating rate of M. lignano caused it to mate more with conspecifics, leading to assortative mating,
while M. janickei ended up mating more with heterospecifics. Thus, while the two species can hybridize, the
mating rate differences could possibly lead to higher fitness costs for M. janickei compared to M. lignano."

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