Molecular Evidence for Parallel Evolution of Adaptive Syndromes in Fig-BreedingLissocephala(Drosophilidae)

• Published in: Molecular phylogenetics and evolution Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 542 - 551
• Main Authors: Harry, Myriam, Solignac, Michel, Lachaise, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.06.1998
• ISSN: 1055-7903; 1095-9513
• DOI: 10.1006/mpev.1998.0508

AfrotropicalLissocephala(Drosophilidae) breed strictly in syconia (figs) ofFicus(Moraceae) and have accordingly evolved specific features including modified female and eggshell morphologies, ovipositing, larval foraging, and mating behaviors. These various traits may exist as two or three alternative states. Each species displays a specific suite of traits so closely coordinated with one another that alternative states of the overall suites of traits can be seen as “adaptive syndromes.” Three clear-cut adaptive syndromes can be recognized while two taxonomic lineages (junctaandsanuspecies groups) are traditionally accepted on the basis of male terminalia. A crucial evolutionary question results from the consideration that ecological clusters and taxonomic groups have conflicting compositions: the three syndromes are found in thejunctagroup while two of them occur in thesanugroup. To resolve this conflict, we present molecular data which provide a robust phylogeny: mitochondrial DNA (12S+16S ribosomal DNA and cytochromeb) sequence data are in agreement with one another regardless of the algorithm used. All molecular data consistently support male terminalia dichotomy. Such a level of consistency unambiguously indicates that parallel evolution of adaptive syndromes occurred. Thus, homoplasy may affect morphological and behavioral traits concomitantly when these are involved in a network of functional relationships.