Color polymorphism and sex ratio distortion in a cichlid fish as an incipient stage in sympatric speciation by sexual selection

Seehausen, Ole; van Alphen, JJM; Lande, R (1999). Color polymorphism and sex ratio distortion in a cichlid fish as an incipient stage in sympatric speciation by sexual selection. Ecology Letters, 2(6), pp. 367-378. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing 10.1046/j.1461-0248.1999.00098.x

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We investigated a Lake Victoria cichlid with a complex colour polymorphism that
apparently represents one original species and two incipient species, all of which are
sympatric. In laboratory breeding experiments we observed sex ratio distortion in
certain matings between original and incipient species. Mate choice experiments show
that males of the incipient species exhibit mating preferences against the original
species, and males and females of the original species exhibit strong mating
preferences against the incipient species. Mating preferences might evolve by sex ratio
selection to avoid matings with distorted progeny sex ratios. Phenotype frequencies
in nature suggest that mating preferences translate into mating frequencies, thus
restricting gene flow and exerting disruptive sexual selection between the original and
incipient species. The incipient species do not differ in morphology or ecology from
the original species, implying that colour polymorphism, associated with sex ratio
distortion, can be an incipient stage in sympatric speciation, and that disruption of
gene flow can precede ecological differentiation

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