Simulated ecology-driven sympatric speciation - art. no. 021906

We introduce a multilocus genetically acquired phenotype, submitted to muta tions and with selective value, in an age-structured model for biological a ging. This phenotype describes a single-trait effect of the environment on an individual, and we study the resulting distribution of this trait among the population. In particular, our simulations show that the appearance of a double phenotypic attractor in the ecology induces the emergence of a sta ble polymorphism, as observed in the Galapagos finches. In the presence of this polymorphism, the simulations generate short-term speciation, when mat ing preferences are also allowed to suffer mutations and acquire selective value.