Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Counterman, Brian A.
Committee Member
Outlaw, Diana C.
Committee Member
Hoffman, Frederico G.
Committee Member
Brown, Matthew W.
Date of Degree
8-12-2016
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Biological Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract
The X and Z chromosomes have unique characteristics that lead to unique evolutionary consequences. Lepidopterans have a well-known, disproportionately large-Z effect for behavioral and morphological traits that distinguish closely related species. A potential explanation for the Large-X effect is the faster evolution of the sex chromosome (Faster-X evolution). We use whole genome re-sequencing of Heliconius erato races and of the incipient species H. himera to test for faster-Z evolution between hybridizing populations at different reproductive isolation levels, by calculating divergence and nucleotide diversity. We show evidence for Faster-Z evolution in Heliconius butterflies at the early stages of speciation and along the speciation continuum. Evidence of higher divergence and lower nucleotide diversity suggests not only selection but also nonaptive process, like demographic changes, may be driving faster-Z evolution, especially in the incipient species.
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/11668/18242
Recommended Citation
Baquero, Margarita, "Faster-X Evolution in the Speciation of Heliconius Butterflies" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 2240.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/2240