Eventos

CONFERÊNCIA | Instant speciation in a livebearing fish, the Amazon molly

12 Outubro 2026 - 14:30h
12 Out 2026

Sala de Atos

Ispa – Instituto Universitário

Resumo:

Speciation is one of the most fundamental processes in evolution. In livebearing fishes (Poeciliidae), alongside allopatric and sympatric speciation, instant speciation can also be observed. This is exemplified by the Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa. Amazon mollies originated from a single hybridization event, consist entirely of females, reproduce clonally, and have lost recombination. However, they still require sperm to trigger embryogenesis, although the male genetic material is not incorporated into the offspring.

This unusual reproductive system raises several fundamental questions: (1) how could so many evolutionary changes arise from a single event? (2) how does a genome evolve in the absence of recombination? and (3) why do males mate with heterospecific Amazon mollies?

These questions will be explored through the study of the Amazon molly, together with a case of sympatric speciation in cave mollies (Poecilia mexicana) and the only known radiation within the family, represented by the genus Limia from Haiti.

Sobre o Conferencista

Ingo Schlupp é Professor de Biologia na University of Oklahoma e Diretor do International Stock Center of Livebearing Fishes. A sua investigação centra-se na biologia evolutiva, ecologia comportamental, seleção sexual e especiação, sendo particularmente reconhecido pelos seus estudos sobre a molinésia-amazónica (Poecilia formosa) e outros peixes vivíparos. O seu trabalho tem contribuído de forma marcante para a compreensão da evolução da reprodução assexuada, da hibridação e dos mecanismos de formação de espécies.

CONFERÊNCIA | Instant speciation in a livebearing fish, the Amazon molly

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