Project

Patterns of divergence in ecological relevant traits and their role in reproductive isolation in an adaptively radiated wolf spider genus from Galapagos

Code
3F010807
Duration
01 October 2007 → 30 September 2011
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund, Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Promotor
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Animal biology
Keywords
evolutionary ecology ecological genetics population biology
 
Project description

Whether divergence in ecological traits is merely influenced by ecological processes (ecological opportunity) or rather by the potential of species to produce alterantive phenotypes is crucial for understanding the mechanism of speciation. The degree of divergence in both ecological and molecular traits of species of the genus Hogna will be contrasted to explain patterns of differentiation in the genus Hogna. Furthermore it will be studied to what extent divergence in ecological traits can lead to reproductive isolation.