Hybrid speciation in mammals: Illusion or reality?

Autor: L. A. Lavrenchenko
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: Biology Bulletin Reviews. 4:198-209
ISSN: 2079-0872
2079-0864
DOI: 10.1134/s2079086414030050
Popis: In the review, the known examples of presumable hybrid speciation in mammals are analyzed. It is often not easy to clearly differentiate hybrid speciation and derivatives of other evolutionary scenarios. Nevertheless, the reality of hybrid speciation, both allopolyploid (AHS) and homoploid (HHS), within this class has been demonstrated. Characteristically, the examples considered include only one case of AHS along with a multitude of HHS events. Speciation via polyploidy is unlikely in mammals because of the impairment of the gene dosage compensation mechanism. It is assumed that HHS can occur, most probably in groups of mammals with hemochorial placentation. Good concordance between specific natural situations and theoretical predictions is shown; species of assumed hybrid origin are usually morphologically aberrant (within their own groups), their geographical ranges are relatively small, and they are spatially separated from parental forms and often occupy edge habitats. Recognition of the reality of such kind of speciation in mammals makes it obvious that it is not only species with a narrow range, occupying periphery ecological niches, often with extreme environmental conditions, that need to be taken under protection, but also stabilized hybrid populations with a unique gene pool and a distinctive phenotypic appearance. Undoubtedly, these populations can be regarded as interesting evolutionary models and therefore definitely deserve to be protected.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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