scholarly journals Convergent morphology and divergent phenology: unravelling the coexistence of mimetic Morpho butterfly species

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Le Roy ◽  
Camille Roux ◽  
Elisabeth Authier ◽  
Héloïse Bastide ◽  
Vincent Debat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Wing Colour ◽  
Temporal Segregation ◽  
Interspecific Territoriality ◽  
Local Selection

AbstractThe emergence and persistence of closely-related species in sympatry is puzzling because the potential gene flow and the common local selective pressures may lead to either merging or competitive exclusion. Some species of Morpho butterflies occurring in sympatry display highly similar wing colour patterns. Associated with erratic flight abilities, their bright colouration may limit predator success and discourage future attacks. The evolution of similar colouration in sympatric species is thus likely under local selection by predators (i.e. escape mimicry). Such phenotypic similarity may promote interspecific territoriality and/or reproductive interference, questioning how closely-related co-mimetic species become sexually isolated and coexist in sympatry. We performed a series of field experiments using flying Morpho dummies placed in a natural habitat where wild males commonly patrol. Analysing the interactions of wild Morpho with different dummies, we show that similarity in wing colour pattern leads to interspecific territoriality and courtship among sympatric species. Using genomic data, we then showed that sympatric Morpho species are surprisingly strictly isolated despite their close relatedness and the observed heterospecific interactions. Finally, using a mark-recapture experiment, we discovered a strong temporal segregation in patrolling activity of males from two co-mimetic sister species. Such divergence in phenology may favour sympatry between closely-related species, despite behavioural interferences induced by the local convergence in colour pattern. Altogether, our findings show that temporal segregation may facilitate the co-existence of closely-related species sharing the same ecological niche, suggesting that phenological shifts may represent an overlooked factor of sympatric speciation. Our study therefore highlights how the evolution of multiple traits may favour species diversification in sympatry by partitioning niche in different dimensions.

scholarly journals Convergent morphology and divergent phenology promote the coexistence of Morpho butterfly species

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Le Roy ◽  
Camille Roux ◽  
Elisabeth Authier ◽  
Hugues Parrinello ◽  
Héloïse Bastide ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Reproductive Interference ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Multiple Traits ◽  
Closely Related Species

AbstractThe coexistence of closely-related species in sympatry is puzzling because ecological niche proximity imposes strong competition and reproductive interference. A striking example is the widespread wing pattern convergence of several blue-banded Morpho butterfly species with overlapping ranges of distribution. Here we perform a series of field experiments using flying Morpho dummies placed in a natural habitat. We show that similarity in wing colour pattern indeed leads to interspecific territoriality and courtship among sympatric species. In spite of such behavioural interference, demographic inference from genomic data shows that sympatric closely-related Morpho species are genetically isolated. Mark-recapture experiments in the two most closely-related species unravel a strong temporal segregation in patrolling activity of males. Such divergence in phenology reduces the costs of reproductive interference while simultaneously preserving the benefits of convergence in non-reproductive traits in response to common ecological pressures. Henceforth, the evolution of multiple traits may favour species diversification in sympatry by partitioning niche in different dimensions.

scholarly journals Chemical signals act as the main reproductive barrier between sister and mimeticHeliconiusbutterflies

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.F. González-Rojas ◽  
K. Darragh ◽  
J Robles ◽  
M. Linares ◽  
S Schulz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Mate Recognition ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Reproductive Barrier ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Chemical Profile ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Wing Colour ◽  
Behavioural Experiments

ABSTRACTColour pattern has been long recognised as the trait that drives mate recognition betweenHeliconiusspecies that are phylogenetically close. However, when this cue is compromised such as in cases of mimetic, sympatric and closely related species, alternative mating signals must evolve to ensure reproductive isolation and species integrity. The closely related speciesHeliconius melpomene malletiandH. timareta florencia, occur in the same geographic region and despite being co-mimics they display strong reproductive isolation. In order to test which cues differ between species, and therefore potentially contribute to reproductive isolation, we quantified differences in wing phenotype and male chemical profile. As expected, wing colour pattern was indistinguishable between the two species while the chemical profile of their male sex pheromones showed marked differences. We then conducted behavioural experiments to study the importance of these signals in mate recognition by females. In agreement with our previous results, we found that pheromones and not wing colour pattern drive the preference of females by conspecific males. In addition, experiments with hybrid males and females suggested an important genetic component for both pheromone production and preference. Altogether, these results suggest that pheromones are the major reproductive barrier opposing gene flow between these two sister and co-mimic species.

scholarly journals Perfect mimicry between Heliconius butterflies is constrained by genetics and development

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1931) ◽  
pp. 20201267
Author(s):  
Steven M. Van Belleghem ◽  
Paola A. Alicea Roman ◽  
Heriberto Carbia Gutierrez ◽  
Brian A. Counterman ◽  
Riccardo Papa
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Wing Colour ◽  
Pattern Diversity ◽  
Heliconius Melpomene ◽  
Gene Regulatory ◽  
Phenotypic Convergence

Müllerian mimicry strongly exemplifies the power of natural selection. However, the exact measure of such adaptive phenotypic convergence and the possible causes of its imperfection often remain unidentified. Here, we first quantify wing colour pattern differences in the forewing region of 14 co-mimetic colour pattern morphs of the butterfly species Heliconius erato and Heliconius melpomene and measure the extent to which mimicking colour pattern morphs are not perfectly identical. Next, using gene-editing CRISPR/Cas9 KO experiments of the gene WntA , which has been mapped to colour pattern diversity in these butterflies, we explore the exact areas of the wings in which WntA affects colour pattern formation differently in H. erato and H. melpomene. We find that, while the relative size of the forewing pattern is generally nearly identical between co-mimics, the CRISPR/Cas9 KO results highlight divergent boundaries in the wing that prevent the co-mimics from achieving perfect mimicry. We suggest that this mismatch may be explained by divergence in the gene regulatory network that defines wing colour patterning in both species, thus constraining morphological evolution even between closely related species.

scholarly journals Chemical signals act as the main reproductive barrier between sister and mimetic Heliconius butterflies

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1926) ◽  
pp. 20200587 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. González-Rojas ◽  
K. Darragh ◽  
J. Robles ◽  
M. Linares ◽  
S. Schulz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Mate Recognition ◽  
Reproductive Barrier ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Chemical Profile ◽  
Chemical Production ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Wing Colour ◽  
Behavioural Experiments

Colour pattern is the main trait that drives mate recognition between Heliconius species that are phylogenetically close. However, when this cue is compromised such as in cases of mimetic, sympatric and closely related species, alternative mating signals must evolve to ensure reproductive isolation and species integrity. The closely related species Heliconius melpomene malleti and H. timareta florencia occur in the same geographical region, and despite being co-mimics, they display strong reproductive isolation. In order to test which cues differ between species, and potentially contribute to reproductive isolation, we quantified differences in the wing phenotype and the male chemical profile. As expected, the wing colour pattern was indistinguishable between the two species, while the chemical profile of the androconial and genital males' extracts showed marked differences. We then conducted behavioural experiments to study the importance of these signals in mate recognition by females. In agreement with our previous results, we found that chemical blends and not wing colour pattern drive the preference of females for conspecific males . Also, experiments with hybrid males and females suggested an important genetic component for both chemical production and preference. Altogether, these results suggest that chemicals are the major reproductive barrier opposing gene flow between these two sister and co-mimic species.

A new iridescent “elfin” butterfly species of Podanotum (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini) from the Colombian Andes

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3303 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
CARLOS PRIETO ◽  
GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Colombian Andes

A new butterfly species, Podanotum pulsar Prieto & Rodríguez n. sp. is described from the high Andes of Colombia. Wepresent a brief discussion on its systematic placement and on adult ecology. Adult specimens and the genitalia of the male andfemale are illustrated and compared with the most closely related species Podanotum glorissimum Bálint & Wojtusiak, according to morphological characters.

scholarly journals Color Differences Among Closely Related Species of Red-Breasted Meadowlarks (Sturnella)

The Condor ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-616
Author(s):  
Pilar Benites ◽  
Pablo L. Tubaro ◽  
Darío A. Lijtmaer ◽  
Stephen C. Lougheed ◽  
Muir D. Eaton
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Short Wavelength ◽  
Visual Space ◽  
Color Discrimination ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
Sexually Selected Traits ◽  
Color Differences

Abstract Abstract. Interspecific differences in sexually selected traits may be important for maintaining reproductive isolation among closely related species living in sympatry. We present the first study of plumage color differences among males of partially sympatric species of South American red-breasted meadowlarks—the White-browed Blackbird (Sturnella superciliaris), the Pampas Meadowlark (S. defilippii), and the Long-tailed Meadowlark (S. loyca)—using reflectance spectrophotometry and the avian visual model of Vorobyev and Osorio (1998). Reflectance values of sexually dichromatic red plumage patches were measured on study skins. Total reflectance, reflectance in the short wavelength part of the spectrum, and several measures of spectral shape were extracted directly from the spectra. Our analyses revealed that S. loyca and S. defilippii were brighter and had higher reflectance in the short wavelength part of the spectrum than S. superciliaris. Minimum reflectance was located at higher wavelengths in breeding than in nonbreeding plumage. Interspecific distances in avian visual space obtained from the Vorobyev and Osorio (1998) model were considerably higher than the threshold value for color discrimination, indicating that the differences found are also detectable by birds. Taken together, these results show that the red plumage patches of these three species present significant color differences throughout the year, not only in the visible but also in the UV part of the spectrum.

Reproductive isolation between two closely related species of the Queensland fruit fly Dracus tryoni (Frogg) and D. neohumeralis Hardy (Diptera : Tephritidae) I. Variation in humeral callus pattern and the occurrence of intermediate colour forms in the wild

1967 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 501 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Wolda
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Similar Variation ◽  
In The Wild

A number of samples from wild populations of the Queensland fruit fly, Dacus tryoni and D. neohumeralis, were studied. There is a considerable variation in the colour pattern on the humeral callus. This variation is continuous so that any criterion for distinguishing between "intermediates" and "good species" is purely arbitrary. It was found in areas where D. neohumeralis does not occur as well as in localities where it is very abundant. By whatever criterion one defines intermediates, there appears to be no relation between the frequency of such forms and the presence or absence of D. neohumeralis or with the relative proportions of the two species in the population. However, flies with only a very small yellow area on an otherwise brown humeral callus were found only in Cairns where D. neohumeralis is usually the most abundant species. A similar variation in humeral callus pattern was found in other related species, such as D. kraussi and D. halfordiae. It is concluded that the intermediate colour forms may not be hybrids between D. tryoni and D. neohumeralis but variants of D. tryoni and, possibly the darker forms from Cairns, of D. neohumeralis.

scholarly journals A NEW ANTHAXIA FROM THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS (COLEOPTERA, BUPRESTIDAE)

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 499
Author(s):  
Pietro Lo Cascio ◽  
Ignazio Sparacio
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Aeolian Islands ◽  
Endemic Taxon

<em>Anthaxia</em> (<em>Haplanthaxia</em>) <em>flaviae</em> n. sp. from the Aeolian Islands (Italy, Sicily) belonging to the <em>A</em>. (<em>H</em>.) <em>olympica</em> Kiesenwetter, 1880 species-group is described, illustrated and compared with <em>A</em>. (<em>H</em>.) <em>scutellaris</em> (Gené, 1839), the most closely related species. From this latter, the new species differs mainly for size and body shape, colour pattern of elytrae, shape of antennomera, margin of anterior tibiae and shape of aedeagus. Some zoogeographical considerations concerning the insular distribution of this endemic taxon are briefly discussed.

scholarly journals Genetic analysis of a wild-caught hybrid between non-sister Heliconius butterfly species

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 660-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanchon K Dasmahapatra ◽  
Armando Silva-Vásquez ◽  
Jae-Woo Chung ◽  
James Mallet
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Species Boundaries ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Distant Hybridization ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Heliconius Melpomene ◽  
Wing Coloration

Interspecific hybridization occurs regularly in wild Heliconius butterflies, although hybrid individuals are usually very rare. However, hybridization generally occurs only between the most closely related species. We report a rare naturally occurring hybrid between non-sister species and carry out the first genetic analysis of such distant hybridization. Mitochondrial and nuclear genes indicate that the specimen is an F 1 hybrid between a female Heliconius ethilla and a male Heliconius melpomene , originating from a group of 13 species estimated to have diverged over 2.5 Myr ago. The presence of such distant natural hybrids, together with evidence for backcrossing, suggests that gene flow across species boundaries can take place long after speciation. Adaptive genes such as those involved in wing coloration could thus be widely shared among members of this highly mimetic genus.

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