Speciation and sexual selection as processes to maintain mitonuclear coadaptation

Eukaryotic performance hinges on the coordinated function of the products of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes in achieving oxidative phosphorylation.  Because two genomes are involved, function is maintained only through perpetual selection for mitonuclear coadaptation.  I’ll discuss how these fundamental features of the genomic architecture of eukaryotes results in both pre- and post-zygotic sorting for coadapted mitonuclear genotypes leading to both speciation and sexual selection, highlighting recent work with songbird coloration.

Biography

Dr. Geoffrey Hill is a professor at Auburn University in Alabama, USA.  He has studied a wide range of topics in behavioral and evolutionary ecology, with a special emphasis on bird coloration.  He has authored five books and over 200 journal articles.