Contrasting reproductive strategies of triploid hybrid males in vertebrate mating systems

• DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12556
• Publication Date: 2014-11-20T15:44:28Z
• Authors: N. B. M. Pruvost; P. Mikulíček; L. Choleva; H.‐U. Reyer
• Keywords: Sexual reproduction; Parthenogenesis; Lineage (genetic); Gamete; Reproductive isolation; Hybrid zone; Polyploid

Abstract The scarcity of parthenogenetic vertebrates is often attributed to their ‘inferior’ mode clonal reproduction, which restricts them self‐reproduce own genotype lineage and leaves little evolutionary potential with regard speciation evolution sexual reproduction. Here, we show that for some taxa, such uniformity does not hold. Using hybridogenetic water frogs ( Pelophylax esculentus ) as a model system, demonstrate triploid hybrid males from two geographic regions exhibit very different reproductive modes. With an integrative data set combining field studies, crossing experiments, flow cytometry microsatellite analyses, found hybrids Central Europe are rare, occur in male sex only form diploid gametes single lineage. In contrast, north‐western widespread, both sexes produce recombined haploid gametes. These differences translate into contrasting roles between regions. Europe, sexually parasitize just perpetuate – the usual pattern parthenogens. on other hand, gamete donors hybrids, thereby stabilizing mixed 2 n ‐3 populations. By demonstrating these draw attention new significant animals nonsexual namely plasticity.