An integrative multidisciplinary approach to understanding cryptic divergence in Brazilian species of theAnastrepha fraterculuscomplex (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

An integrative multidisciplinary approach was used to delimit boundaries among cryptic species within the Anastrepha fraterculus complex in Brazil. Sexual compatibility, courtship and sexual acoustic behaviour, female morphometric variability, variation for the mitochondrial gene COI, and the presence of Wolbachia were compared among A. fraterculus populations from the Southern (Vacaria, Pelotas, Bento Gonçalves, São Joaquim) and Southeastern (Piracicaba) regions of Brazil. Our results suggest full mating compatibility among A. fraterculus populations from the Southern region and partial pre‐zygotic reproductive isolation of these populations when compared with the population from the Southeastern region. A. fraterculus populations from both regions differed in the frequency of courtship displays and aspects of the calling phase and mounting acoustic signal. Morphometric analysis showed differences between Southern region and Southeastern region samples. All populations analyzed were infected with Wolbachia. The trees generated from the COI sequencing data are broadly congruent with the behavioural and morphometric data with the exception of one Southern population. The likely mechanisms by which A. fraterculus populations might have diverged are discussed in detail based on behavioural, morphometric, molecular genetics, and biogeographical studies.

Resolving cryptic species complexes of major tephritid pests

“…Male calling and courtship behaviour were recorded for four morphotypes. Sexual behaviour studies helped to identify behavioural characteristics that allowed distinct morphotype descriptions such as time of sexual activity, acoustical signals and sequence of courtship behaviour (Rull et al 2012, 2013, Devescovi et al 2014, Dias et al in press). One post-copulatory study revealed differences in sperm storage and remating propensity between the Peruvian and Brazilian 1 morphotypes (Abraham et al 2014).…”

Incipient speciation in the Anastrepha fraterculus cryptic species complex: reproductive compatibility between A. sp.1 aff. fraterculus and A. sp.3 aff. fraterculus

“…The analysis of pre‐ and post‐zygotic isolation among populations of cryptic species is of considerable interest, mainly when this theoretical knowledge has practical relevance. The Anastrepha fraterculus Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) cryptic species complex comprises different biological strains under the same species designation though they differ in terms of genetic, morphological, and morphometric characteristics (Stone, ; Steck, ; Selivon & Perondini, ; Smith‐Caldas et al., ; Hernández‐Ortiz et al., , ; Selivon et al., , ; Barr et al., ; Silva & Barr, ; Cáceres et al., ; Canal et al., ; Dias et al., ). This economically important complex (Zucchi, ) is distributed from northern Mexico to the south of South America (Stone, ; Aluja, ; Malavasi et al., ; Norrbom, ).…”

Reproductive compatibility among Mexican populations of Anastrepha obliqua: theoretical and management implications

“…Delimitation of cryptic species complexes may require the application of comprehensive integrative approaches (Gebiola, Gómez‐Zurita, Monti, Navone, & Bernardo, ; Katz, Giordano, & Soto‐Adames, ; Riedel, Sagata, Suhardjono, Tänzler, & Balke, ). Such approaches have been successfully applied both, to separate (Cáceres et al., ; Dias et al., ; Selivon, Vretos, Fontes, & Perondini, ; Selivon et al., ) or, to cluster (Krosch et al., ; Schutze et al., ) morphologically cryptic species groups of fruit flies. Among other methods, studying reproductive compatibility, both at pre‐zygotic and post‐zygotic levels, has contributed to identifying species boundaries and ongoing divergence among cryptic fruit fly taxa (Devescovi et al., ; Roriz, Japyassú, & Joachim‐Bravo, ; Rull, Aluja, & Feder, ; Rull et al., ; Selivon, Perondini, & Morgante, ; Tadeo et al., ).…”