Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2015-10-01 Repeated Trait Evolution Driven by Divergent Natural Selection at Early and Late Stages of Speciation Spencer J. Ingley Brigham Young University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Biology Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Ingley, Spencer J., "Repeated Trait Evolution Driven by Divergent Natural Selection at Early and Late Stages of Speciation" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 6150. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6150 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Repeated Trait Evolution Driven by Divergent Natural Selection at Early and Late Stages of Speciation Spencer J. Ingley A dissertation submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Jerald B. Johnson, Chair Jack W. Sites, Jr. John S. K. Kauwe Byron J. Adams Patrik Nosil Department of Biology Brigham Young University October 2015 Copyright © 2015 Spencer J. Ingley All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT Repeated Trait Evolution Driven by Divergent Natural Selection at Early and Late Stages of Speciation Spencer J. Ingley Department of Biology, BYU Doctor of Philosophy Speciation – the process by which new species arise – is of fundamental importance in the biological sciences. The means by which new species arise, and the relationship among living species, has been a topic that has captivated both lay and scientific observers for centuries. In recent years, the study of speciation has enjoyed increased attention, resulting in significant advances in our understanding of how species form. Although our understanding of the processes that contribute to speciation has increased dramatically in recent years, our knowledge of how reproductive barriers accumulate as speciation proceeds is still limited. Thus, studies that evaluate trait divergence and its consequences at early verses late stages of divergence can provide valuable insight into the speciation process. Chapter 1 of my dissertation focuses on the role of animal personality in the speciation process. Animal personality – defined as consistent individual differences in behavioral tendencies – has been identified as a key player in several ecological and evolutionary processes, yet the role of personality in speciation remains unexplored. In this chapter I discuss the ways by which personality can contribute to a suite of reproductive barriers and drive the speciation process. Chapters 2 through 5 provide a case study evaluating how selection acts on traits at early and late stages of speciation, using the Neotropical Livebearing fish genus Brachyrhaphis as a model system. Brachyrhaphis is ideally suited for this research because several species pairs and population pairs within species occur in similarly divergent selective regimes. I first present results from a field demographic study that shows that the strength of divergent selection acting on life-history traits in populations from divergent predation environments diminishes as speciation proceeds. I then show that population pairs at different stages of divergence are evolving similar morphological patterns along parallel trajectories. At both early and late stages of divergence, populations from environments with dense predator populations have a body shape that appears to be optimized for burst-speed swimming, and important component of predator escape. In contrast, populations from environments lacking predators have a body shape optimized for endurance swimming ability, which is important in environments where competition for foods and mates is high. Next, I show that populations from divergent predation environments do indeed differ in their swimming abilities according to our predictions, reflecting a population level trade-off between burst and endurance swimming ability. Although population level trade-offs were strong, I found no evidence of within population level trade-offs, suggesting that populations have arrived at novel solutions to between population trade-offs that were not present within ancestral populations. Finally, I show that these specialized swimming modes are locally adaptive, and that divergent ecology selects against immigrants, effectively reducing gene flow between populations from divergent environments. Together, these studies provide a valuable glimpse into the repeatability and predictability of trait divergence at different stages of speciation. Keywords: speciation, trait divergence, Brachyrhaphis, predation, natural selection ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” So states an African proverb that has profoundly impacted the way I view my life, and the way I view my science. None of the work described in this dissertation would have been possible if I had gone it alone. For this reason I have a long list of faithful family, friends, colleagues, and mentors to acknowledge for their contributions – big and small – to what has become my dissertation. First: my family. Starting as a young child my parents provided me with myriad opportunities to learn and to grow in diverse areas. My backyard and the lake that it bordered became a playground for learning, exploration, and adventure. I thank my parents for kindling in me a desire to explore, and for providing invaluable guidance, love, and support along the way. I thank them for teaching me of a wise and loving God, and encouraging me to study his countless and beautiful works. My dear wife has been my cornerstone since we were married and I can’t thank her enough for her love and support, and for our two beautiful boys. They have helped me re-learn how to see the world with the enthusiasm of a child. I also thank members of my committee for their valuable support and input over the past five years. I thank my kind advisor Jerry, who has not only helped me become a better scientist, but has been a keen example of how to balance what matters most in life with my research and education pursuits. His example will have an impact on my life for years to come. Beyond my committee I thank department colleagues, specifically Seth Bybee and Mark Belk, for their friendship, support, and input on matters both personal and scientific. Finally, I thank the countless students who have helped me go far by going together. I thank Chelsey Hancock for her tireless efforts in the lab and enduring enthusiasm. I thank David Money and Jeremy Rehm for their extensive help in Panama over the course of four hot months. They made the experience both productive and enjoyable. I also thank Henry Camarillo, Hannah Willis, Matthew Rambo, Mike McEntire, and Preston Johnson for valuable help in the lab and in the field. None of this work would have been possible without the help of several generous funding sources. First, the BYU Department of Biology and BYU Graduate Studies have provided me with the means to eat and to study. A National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship provided an invaluable source of support over three years, allowing me to travel to conferences, workshops, and the field. The Explorers Club, the National Geographic Society, the American Society of Naturalists, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute also provide crucial funding and support for my field expeditions. I thank all those who have worked long hours running these programs, and I thank the generous and numerous donors who make it all possible. TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE ................................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1. The Role of Personality in the Speciation Process ..................................................................... 1 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 2 How Could Personality Affect Speciation? ................................................................................. 2 Personality and Speciation Via Peripheral Isolates .................................................................. 3 Personality as a Neglected Trait in Selectively Divergent Populations ................................... 3 Personality and Non-Random Mating Within and Among Populations .................................. 4 How Personality Can