Data from: The accumulation of reproductive isolation in early stages of divergence supports a role for sexual selection

Models of speciation by sexual selection propose that male-female coevolution leads to the rapid evolution of behavioral reproductive isolation. Here, we compare the strength of behavioral isolation to ecological isolation, gametic incompatibility, and hybrid inviability in a group of dichromatic stream fishes. In addition, we examine whether any of these individual barriers, or a combined measure of total isolation, is predicted by body shape differences, male color differences, environmental differences, or genetic distance. Behavioral isolation reaches the highest values of any barrier and is significantly greater than ecological isolation. No individual reproductive barrier is associated with any of the predictor variables. However, marginally significant relationships between male color and body shape differences with ecological and behavioral isolation are discussed. Differences in male color and body shape predict total reproductive isolation between species; hierarchical partitioning of these two variables’ effects suggests a stronger role for male color differences. Together, these results suggest an important role for divergent sexual selection in darter speciation but raise new questions about the mechanisms of sexual selection at play and the role of male nuptial ornaments.性选择物种形成模型提出，雌雄协同演化可推动行为生殖隔离的快速演化。本研究以一类双色溪流鱼类为研究对象，比较了行为生殖隔离、生态隔离、配子不相容性与杂种无生活力的强度。此外，本研究考察了体型差异、雄性体色差异、环境差异及遗传距离，是否可预测上述各类单一生殖隔离屏障，抑或总生殖隔离的综合衡量指标。结果显示，行为生殖隔离的强度在所有隔离屏障中最高，且显著高于生态隔离。未发现任一单一生殖隔离屏障与任一预测变量存在显著关联。不过，本研究探讨了雄性体色差异、体型差异分别与生态隔离、行为生殖隔离之间的边际显著关联。雄性体色差异与体型差异可预测物种间的总生殖隔离水平；对这两个变量的效应进行层级划分后可见，雄性体色差异的作用更为显著。综合以上结果，趋异化性选择在镖鲈（darter）物种形成过程中发挥了重要作用，但同时也引发了新的科学问题：当前发挥作用的性选择机制究竟为何，以及雄性婚饰又扮演了怎样的角色。