Trans-Specific Polymorphisms Between Cryptic Daphnia Species Affect Fitness and Behavior.

Shared polymorphisms, loci with identical alleles across species, are of unique interest in evolutionary biology as they may represent cases of selection maintaining ancient genetic variation post-speciation, or contemporary selection promoting convergent evolution. In this study, we investigate the abundance of shared polymorphism between two members of the Daphnia pulex species complex. We test whether the presence of shared mutations is consistent with the action of balancing selection or alternative hypotheses such as hybridization, incomplete lineage sorting or convergent evolution.

Balancing selection and the functional effects of shared polymorphism in cryptic species.

The patterns of genetic variation within and between related taxa represent the genetic history of a species. Shared polymorphisms, loci with identical alleles across species, are of unique interest as they may represent cases of ancient selection maintaining functional variation post-speciation. In this study, we investigate the abundance of shared polymorphism in the species complex.