Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

19 May, 08 AM - 21 May, 08 AM

By characterizing mating behaviour and measuring genitalic morphology in Timema, I will determine the role of mating behaviour and mating system on the evolution of reproductive isolation, which may ultimately lead to speciation. The mechanism underlying isolation between species has yet to be determined and, by studying this, I plan to examine whether similar processes are involved in maintaining different levels of isolation, and whether intraspecific mate discrimination and interspecific isolation form a continuum. Also, by measuring differences in genitalic morphology, and comparing these differences in both ecological and phylogenetic frameworks, I will investigate how the evolution of separate reproductive traits are related, and what traits influence reproductive isolation. Behavioural isolation is a likely mechanism to solidify isolation between previously diverged groups, and may also serve to initiate speciation (Coyne and Orr 2004, p. 216). However, specific mechanisms of reproductive isolation have rarely been characterized. Therefore, by incorporating behavioural, ecological, and morphological studies, I plan to determine what specific process within mating systems drive the evolution of reproductive isolation.

Visit #15202 @Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 9987 | Research

mating behaviour and reproductive isolation in Timema walking-sticks

graduate_student - Simon Fraser University

Reservation Members(s)

Devin Arbuthnott May 19 - 21, 2008 (3 days)
Devin Arbuthnott May 19 - 21, 2008 (3 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Highlands Camp 2 May 19 - 21, 2008