Recurrent origin of a sexually selected trait in Xiphophorus fishes inferred from a molecular phylogeny

Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-61569
  • DARWIN\(^1\) believed that sexual selection accounts for the evolution of exaggerated male ornaments, such as the sword-like caudal fin extensions of male fishes of the genus Xiphophorus, that appear detrimental to survival. Swordtails continue to feature prominently in empirical work and theories of sexual selection; the pre-existing bias hypothesis has been offered as an explanation for the evolution of swords in these fishes\(^{2,3}\). Based upon a largely morphological phylogeny, this hypothesis suggests that female preference to mate withDARWIN\(^1\) believed that sexual selection accounts for the evolution of exaggerated male ornaments, such as the sword-like caudal fin extensions of male fishes of the genus Xiphophorus, that appear detrimental to survival. Swordtails continue to feature prominently in empirical work and theories of sexual selection; the pre-existing bias hypothesis has been offered as an explanation for the evolution of swords in these fishes\(^{2,3}\). Based upon a largely morphological phylogeny, this hypothesis suggests that female preference to mate with sworded males arose in ancestrally swordless species, thus pre-dating the origin of the sword itself and directly driving its evolution. Here we present a molecular phylogeny (based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences) of Xiphophorus which differs from the traditional one: it indicates that the sword originated and was lost repeatedly. Our phylogeny suggests that the ancestor of the genus is more likely to have possessed a sword than not, thus questioning the applicability of the pre-existing bias hypothesis as an explanation for the cvolution of this sexually selected trait.show moreshow less

Download full text files

Export metadata

Additional Services

Share in Twitter Search Google Scholar Statistics
Metadaten
Author: Axel Meyer, Jean M. Morrissey, Manfred Schartl
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-61569
Document Type:Journal article
Faculties:Medizinische Fakultät / Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Language:English
Year of Completion:1994
Source:Nature (1994) , 368, 539-542
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 54 Chemie / 540 Chemie und zugeordnete Wissenschaften
GND Keyword:Physiologische Chemie
Release Date:2011/11/25
Licence (German):License LogoDeutsches Urheberrecht