Rapidly diverging lineages often involve interspecific variation in mating displays—such as nuptial coloration, mating songs, and courtship dances. Currently, the evolutionary processes underlying the formation of such groups that exhibit diverse mating displays remain largely unclear, especially when they lack clear ecological differences and significant hybrid incompatibility. Based on computer simulations of evolution, we propose that hybridisation between genetically distinct lineages can provide a route to rapid speciation accompanied by diversification of mating displays. A key process in this mechanism is an alteration of the sexual selection regime, caused by hybridisation increasing genetic variation in mate preference within populations.
Schematic illustration of our hypothesis. The hypothesis considers hybridization between two genetically distinct lineages within an ancestral species (a). Hybridization generates interindividual variation in female mate preferences, thereby altering the sexual selection regime (b). This mechanism can promote the evolution of a new species with a novel mating display.
