Evolution of hybrid inviability associated with chromosome fusions

Abstract

Chromosomal rearrangements, such as inversions, have received considerable attention in the speciation literature due to their hampering effects on recombination. However, less is known about how other rearrangements, such as chromosome fissions and fusions, can affect the evolution of reproductive isolation. Here, we used crosses between populations of the wood white butterfly (Leptidea sinapis) with different karyotypes to identify genomic regions associated with hybrid inviability. By contrasting allele frequencies between F₂ hybrids that survived until the adult stage with individuals of the same cohort that succumbed to hybrid incompatibilities, we show that candidate loci for hybrid inviability mainly are situated in fast-evolving regions with reduced recombination rates, especially in regions where chromosome fusions have occurred. Our results show that the extensive variation in chromosome numbers observed across the tree of life can be involved in speciation by being hotspots for the early evolution of postzygotic reproductive isolation.