https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2006-00251-5
Monte Carlo simulations of parapatric speciation
1
Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Litorânea, s/n, Boa Viagem, Niterói, 24210-340 RJ, Brazil
2
Institute for Computer Physics, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 27, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Corresponding author: a veit@ical.uni-stuttgart.de
Received:
13
January
2006
Revised:
25
April
2006
Published online:
22
June
2006
Parapatric speciation is studied using an individual-based model with sexual reproduction. We combine the theory of mutation accumulation for biological ageing with an environmental selection pressure that varies according to the individuals geographical positions and phenotypic traits. Fluctuations and genetic diversity of large populations are crucial ingredients to model the features of evolutionary branching and are intrinsic properties of the model. Its implementation on a spatial lattice gives interesting insights into the population dynamics of speciation on a geographical landscape and the disruptive selection that leads to the divergence of phenotypes. Our results suggest that assortative mating is not an obligatory ingredient to obtain speciation in large populations at low gene flow.
PACS: 87.10.+e – General theory and mathematical aspects / 87.23.-n – Ecology and evolution / 87.23.Cc – Population dynamics and ecological pattern formation / 87.23.Kg – Dynamics of evolution
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2006