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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1989 Jun;86(12):4798–4802. doi: 10.1073/pnas.86.12.4798

Chromosomal inversion patterning and population differentiation in a young insular species, Drosophila silvestris.

E M Craddock 1, H L Carson 1
PMCID: PMC287361  PMID: 2734320

Abstract

The recently evolved Hawaiian species Drosophila silvestris has a subdivided population structure and shows great spatial heterogeneity in chromosome inversion distributions and frequencies within its extremely limited geographic range. Pattern analysis of the 11 chromosomal polymorphisms in the context of the recently discovered morphological and behavioral divergence within the species has elucidated the history of the chromosomal differentiation. We identify four chronological groups of inversions and their probable sites of origin. Spread of the derived "3-row" bristle morphotype on the Hilo side of the Island of Hawaii has been accompanied by the acquisition of six new inversion polymorphisms. Three phylogenetically old inversions show correlations with altitude, and there are multiple cross-correlations between inversions on the same and different chromosomes, reflecting complex interaction systems. Quantification of the genetic population structure of D. silvestris by hierarchical F statistics reveals a dramatic level of genetic differentiation for an evolutionarily new species of such restricted range. This level exceeds that of older, continental Drosophila species. There is, however, minimal concordance between the chromosomal variation and the morphological-behavioral discontinuity, a consequence of the extensive cytological variation within each morphotype. Such a fragmented gene pool favors the rapid evolution and continued divergence of this insular species.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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