本期封面所示為彩色的慈鯛魚Pundamilia nyererei 和 Pundamilia pundamilia以及一種野生的中間形態(tài)（圖片最上邊）,，背景為不同水深處的光譜,。
非洲湖泊中的慈鯛魚是教科書中關(guān)于物種快速形成的典型例子，但其中所涉及的機(jī)制仍然不是很清楚,。
現(xiàn)在,，對(duì)維多利亞湖中的慈鯛魚所做觀測(cè)研究，揭示了導(dǎo)致（通過(guò)自然和性別選擇進(jìn)行的,、由感官驅(qū)動(dòng)的）物種形成過(guò)程的視覺(jué)系統(tǒng)趨異演化（表現(xiàn)為視覺(jué)基因的分化,、雄性的彩色化和雌性的喜好）的生態(tài)及分子基礎(chǔ)。感官驅(qū)動(dòng)假說(shuō)預(yù)測(cè),，感覺(jué)和信號(hào)系統(tǒng)中對(duì)不同環(huán)境的趨異適應(yīng),，可在種群的第二接觸點(diǎn)（secondary contact）上引起交配前隔離（premating isolation）。
除了為證明物種形成可以通過(guò)感官驅(qū)動(dòng)發(fā)生而不需要地理隔離提供明確證據(jù)外,，這項(xiàng)工作還為在由人為原因造成的維多利亞湖富營(yíng)養(yǎng)化期間慈鯛魚物種多樣性的崩潰提供了一個(gè)機(jī)制性的解釋,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Nature 455, 620-626 (2 October 2008) | doi:10.1038/nature07285
Speciation through sensory drive in cichlid fish
Ole Seehausen, Yohey Terai, Isabel S. Magalhaes, Karen L. Carleton, Hillary D. J. Mrosso, Ryutaro Miyagi, Inke van der Sluijs, Maria V. Schneider, Martine E. Maan, Hidenori Tachida, Hiroo Imai & Norihiro Okada
Theoretically, divergent selection on sensory systems can cause speciation through sensory drive. However, empirical evidence is rare and incomplete. Here we demonstrate sensory drive speciation within island populations of cichlid fish. We identify the ecological and molecular basis of divergent evolution in the cichlid visual system, demonstrate associated divergence in male colouration and female preferences, and show subsequent differentiation at neutral loci, indicating reproductive isolation. Evidence is replicated in several pairs of sympatric populations and species. Variation in the slope of the environmental gradients explains variation in the progress towards speciation: speciation occurs on all but the steepest gradients. This is the most complete demonstration so far of speciation through sensory drive without geographical isolation. Our results also provide a mechanistic explanation for the collapse of cichlid fish species diversity during the anthropogenic eutrophication of Lake Victoria.
