Abstract
Recently diverged population in the early stages of speciation offer an
opportunity to understand mechanisms of isolation and their relative
contribution. Drosophila willistoni is a tropical species with broad
distribution from Argentina to the southern United States, including the
Caribbean islands. We have recently documented a postzygotic barrier
between Central America, North America, and the northern Caribbean
islands (D. w. willistoni) from South American and the southern
Caribbean islands (D. w. winge). Here we identify premating isolation
between strains regardless of their subspecies status, with the effect
being dependent on environment. We find no evidence of postmating
prezygotic isolation and proceed to characterize hybrid male sterility
among the subspecies. Sterile male hybrids transfer an ejaculate that is
devoid of sperm but causes elongation and expansion of the female
uterus. In sterile male hybrids, bulging of the seminal vesicle appears
to impede the movement of the sperm towards the sperm pump, where sperm
normally mixes with accessory glands products. Our results highlight a
unique form of hybrid male sterility in Drosophila that is driven by a
mechanical impediment to transfer sperm rather than by an abnormality of
the sperm itself. Interestingly, this form of sterility is reminiscent
of a form of infertility (azoospermia) that is caused by lack of sperm
in the semen due to blockages that impede the sperm from reaching the
ejaculate.