物種形成是種群間生殖隔離演化的產(chǎn)物，探究昆蟲種間生殖隔離的機(jī)制有助于我們深入理解物種形成的模式。跳甲屬（昆蟲綱：鞘翅目：葉甲科）昆蟲多為專食性,，種間寄主隔離顯著,，是探討這一問題提供了理想材料,。
近日,，中科院動物研究所楊星科研究員領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的研究組以兩種同域分布的專食性近緣跳甲為研究對象，基于種間雜交的數(shù)據(jù),，采用隔離指數(shù)（isolation indexes）分析法對可能導(dǎo)致生殖隔離的多個內(nèi),、外因素進(jìn)行了量化分析，并采用聯(lián)合尺度檢驗(yàn)法（joint-scaling test）和Castle–Wright estimator分析了產(chǎn)卵選擇和后代發(fā)育指標(biāo)的遺傳規(guī)律,，結(jié)果認(rèn)為：雖然兩種跳甲交配后生殖隔離不完善,，但由于強(qiáng)烈的寄主專化而導(dǎo)致的交配前生殖隔離起到更為重要的作用,，這為因生態(tài)隔離而導(dǎo)致的同域物種形成提供了可能,；控制產(chǎn)卵選擇和后代存活的基因主要表現(xiàn)為加性遺傳模式（additive inheritance mode），控制產(chǎn)卵選擇的基因多達(dá)30個,，而控制后代在植物上存活的基因僅為3－4個,，二者至少部分獨(dú)立；同域物種形成需要嚴(yán)格的內(nèi)外條件,，生態(tài)因子和內(nèi)在因素都可能在上述跳甲物種形成過程中起到作用,。本研究為從多角度分析物種形成模式提供了新的思路。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Journal of Evolutionary Biology DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01841.x
Reproductive barriers between two sympatric beetle species specialized on different host plants
XUE, H.-J.1; MAGALH?ES, S.2; LI, W.-Z.1; YANG, X.-K.1
Knowledge on interspecific pre- and post-zygotic isolation mechanisms provides insights into speciation patterns. Using crosses (F1 and backcrosses) of two closely related flea beetles species, Altica fragariae and A. viridicyanea, specialized on different hosts in sympatry, we measured: (a) the type of reproductive isolation and (b) the inheritance mode of preference and host-specific performance, using a joint-scaling test. Each species preferred almost exclusively its host plant, creating strong prezygotic isolation between them, and suggesting that speciation may occur at least partly in sympatry. Reproductive isolation was intrinsic between females of A. fragariae and either A. viridicyanea or F1 males, whereas the other crosses showed ecologically dependent reproductive isolation, suggesting ecological speciation. The genetic basis of preference and performance was at least partially independent, and several loci coded for preference, which limits the possibility of sympatric speciation. Hence, both ecological and intrinsic factors may contribute to speciation between these species.
