Process | Patterns in favour | Patterns against or untested postulates |
---|---|---|
Ecological divergence of molecular forms | Biogeographic differences in distribution; indices of co-occurrence and niche overlap; differences in distribution of habitat suitability; segregation of karyotypes in separate clusters coincident with molecular form status on major eco-geographical gradient (first DCA axis) | Â |
Competition among taxa | Patterns of co-occurrence associated to relative abundance; reversal in relative abundance not matching environmental steepness of environmental clines; similar fundamental ecological niche (competition for the same resources) | Shared keystone predator(s) apparent competition |
Niche expansion of M form | Mismatch between fundamental and realized ecological niches; relative prevalence in lower quality habitat | Phylogenetic relationship among taxa |
Ecological divergence of karyotypes | Segregation along environmental gradients | Â |
Competition among karyotypes | Segregation along habitat quality gradient of 'typical' and 'atypical' karyotypes | Shared keystone predator(s) apparent competition |
Adaptive role of chromosomal inversions | Non-random distribution of karyotypes along major eco-geographical gradient; concordant distribution of karyotypes between molecular forms | Phylogeographic relationship among taxa; presence of ecological adaptation genes inside inversions |
Role of chromosomal inversions in reproductive isolation (lack of) | Chromosomal inversions do not fully segregate according to molecular form | Presence of reproductive isolation genes inside speciation island(s) |
Epistasis | Ecological value of chromosomal inversions depends upon M/S background | Presence of ecological adaptation genes inside speciation island(s) |
Reinforcement | Rarity of hybrids (despite significant hybridization and fertility and viability of hybrids*) | Fitness of hybrids; cryptic mate choice |
Secondary contact after divergence in allopatry | Admixture of karyotypes in contact zone | Mismatch between fundamental and realized ecological niches |