SOME EVIDENCE OF INCIPIENT SPECIATION IN DROSOPHILA-KIKKAWAI

Altogether 11 geographic populations of Drosophila kikkawai were analy sed from the viewpoint of karyotypic variation, inversion polymorphism and sexual isolation. The results revealed that of all the population s, the New Guinea population was the most genetically diverged, charac terized by its distinct karyotype, possession of a fixed inversion, an d its females exhibiting sexual isolation at the level of preferential mating. Based on these findings it was inferred that incipient specia tion has proceeded in D. kikkawai and its New Guinea population is on its way to speciation.