CAnMove

We have investigated the parallell divergence between ecotypes of the freshwater isopod (Asellus aquaticus) in two different lakes in Sweden (Lake Tåkern and Lake Krankesjön) and the relative role of assortative mating vs. Migration modification (philopatry) in ecological speciation.
 
Work has entailed a combination of molecular markers (AFLP:s) and laboratory experiments (male-female mate choice, investigations of migration tendency). We have compared males and females belonging to different ecotypes (reed or stonewort habitats) or lakes (Lake Tåkern and Lake Krankesjön) to understand if there exists parallellism also in sexual isolation and the possible role of migration modification in keeping ecotypes isolated from each other, in the face of gene flow between closely located habitats.