Patterns of evolution inGraomys griseoflavus (Rodentia, Muridae). III. Olfactory discrimination as a premating isolation mechanism between cytotypes
✍ Scribed by Theiler, Gerardo R. ;Blanco, Antonio
- Book ID
- 102336991
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1996
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 473 KB
- Volume
- 274
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0022-104X
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✦ Synopsis
Graomys griseoflavus is a South American murid rodent showing a high degree of chromosomal polymorphism. We have recently demonstrated that cytotypes 2n = 36-38 form a complex reproductively isolated from the kariomorph 2n = 42, and that they may be considered separate species. Given the importance of olfactory perception for precopulatory recognition, we have investigated the ability of G. griseoflavus females to distinguish between odiferous stimuli from conspecific and heterospecific males by means of olfactory discrimination tests.
Results show that females are able to recognize olfactory stimuli from males of compatible chromosome complement and those from males with whom they would not produce viable descendants or would produce sterile hybrids. This discrimination ability is only evident during the estrus phase, suggesting that this capacity is related to the precopulatory recognition and could act as a premating reproductive isolation mechanism. o 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.