Climate change promotes hybridisation between deeply divergent species

PeerJ

article

Daniele Canestrelli¹  Roberta Bisconti¹  Andrea Chiocchio¹  Luigi Maiorano²  Mauro Zampiglia¹  Giuseppe Nascetti¹ 

[1] Department of Ecological and Biological Science, Università degli Studi della Tuscia;Department of Biology and Biotechnology ‘Charles Darwin’, University of Roma ‘La Sapienza’;Department of Integrative Marine Ecology

关键词: Climate change;    Hybridisation;    Pre-mating reproductive barriers;    Life-history traits;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.3072

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Rare hybridisations between deeply divergent animal species have been reported for decades in a wide range of taxa, but have often remained unexplained, mainly considered chance events and reported as anecdotal. Here, we combine field observations with long-term data concerning natural hybridisations, climate, land-use, and field-validated species distribution models for two deeply divergent and naturally sympatric toad species in Europe (Bufo bufo and Bufotes viridis species groups). We show that climate warming and seasonal extreme temperatures are conspiring to set the scene for these maladaptive hybridisations, by differentially affecting life-history traits of both species. Our results identify and provide evidence of an ultimate cause for such events, and reveal that the potential influence of climate change on interspecific hybridisations goes far beyond closely related species. Furthermore, climate projections suggest that the chances for these events will steadily increase in the near future.

【 授权许可】

CC BY