1
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Foster BJ, McCulloch GA, Foster Y, Kroos GC, King TM, Waters JM. ebony underpins Batesian mimicry in melanic stoneflies. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:4986-4998. [PMID: 37503654 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of Batesian mimicry - whereby harmless species avoid predation through their resemblance to harmful species - has long intrigued biologists. In rare cases, Batesian mimicry is linked to intraspecific colour variation, in which only some individuals within a population resemble a noxious 'model'. Here, we assess intraspecific colour variation within a widespread New Zealand stonefly, wherein highly melanized individuals of Zelandoperla closely resemble a chemically defended aposematic stonefly, Austroperla cyrene. We assess convergence in the colour pattern of these two species, compare their relative palatability to predators, and use genome-wide association mapping to assess the genetic basis of this resemblance. Our analysis reveals that melanized Zelandoperla overlap significantly with Austroperla in colour space but are significantly more palatable to predators, implying that they are indeed Batesian mimics. Analysis of 194,773 genome-wide SNPs reveals an outlier locus (ebony) strongly differentiating melanic versus non-melanic Zelandoperla. Genotyping of 338 specimens from a single Zelandoperla population indicates that ebony explains nearly 70% of the observed variance in melanism. As ebony has a well-documented role in insect melanin biosynthesis, our findings indicate this locus has a conserved function across deeply divergent hexapod lineages. Distributional records suggest a link between the occurrence of melanic Zelandoperla and the forested ecosystems where the model Austroperla is abundant, suggesting the potential for adaptive shifts in this system underpinned by environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brodie J Foster
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Yasmin Foster
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Gracie C Kroos
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Tania M King
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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2
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Pepi A, Hemstrom W, Dang A, Beck C, Beyerle F. Comparing the roles of climate, predation and phylogeography in driving wing colour variation in Ranchman’s tiger moth ( Arctia virginalis). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blac138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In Lepidoptera, as an explanation for darker phenotypes occurring in colder areas, wing melanism has been proposed to increase solar thermal gain. Alternatively, trade-offs with aposematic signalling and ultraviolet protection have been proposed as explanations for variation in melanism. To investigate the roles of temperature, humidity, solar radiation and predation in driving melanism in the Ranchman’s tiger moth (Arctia virginalis), we characterized wing melanism in 23 populations across the range. We also conducted predation experiments using artificial moths and carried out genetic analyses to examine population structure and to test whether wing coloration was hereditary. We found that wing melanism was positively associated with mean temperature during the flight season, which was the best predictor of melanism rates. Wing melanism also exhibited a negative association with humidity and a weak positive association with insolation. We also found two loci weakly associated with wing melanism and showed that melanism is likely to be highly hereditary but not closely associated with population differentiation. Our results contrast with previous findings that melanism is associated with colder conditions and higher predation risk and suggest that humidity and protection against ultraviolet radiation are potential drivers of variation in wing melanism that have been overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pepi
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
- Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of California, Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
| | - William Hemstrom
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of California, Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
| | - Audrey Dang
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of California, Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
| | - Claire Beck
- Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of California, Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
| | - Fiona Beyerle
- Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of California, Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
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3
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Markl G, Ottmann S, Haasis T, Budach D, Krais S, Köhler H. Thermobiological effects of temperature-induced color variations in Aglais urticae (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae). Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8992. [PMID: 35784029 PMCID: PMC9188032 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Coloration of animals is important for camouflage, for social behavior, or for physiological fitness. This study investigates the color variation in adults of Aglais urticae obtained on subjecting some pre-imaginal stages to different temperature conditions and their thermobiological consequences. To investigate the evolutionary-ecological interactions of temperature and pigmentation in butterflies, caterpillars, and pupae of the small tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae), larvae from Central Europe and Scandinavia were reared at temperatures between 7 and 34°C in the laboratory or in the field. After emergence, the intensity of pigmentation of the imagines and their increase in body temperature under defined full-spectrum light irradiation were quantified by image analysis and thermal imaging. At constant conditions, ambient rearing temperature and pigmentation intensity of imagines were negatively and linearly correlated in Central European butterflies, regardless of whether the pupal stage alone or, additionally, the last period of the larval stage was exposed to these conditions: low temperatures induced darker coloration and high temperatures led to lighter individuals. A thermal pulse of a few days alone at the beginning of pupal dormancy led to a similar, albeit weakened, effect. Caterpillars of the Scandinavian subspecies A. urticae polaris, whose pupal dormancy took place under Central European field conditions, developed into strongly pigmented imagines. The thermobiological relevance of more intense pigmentation was shown by significantly higher absorption of light, and thus stronger increased body temperature after 5 min of defined illumination, but this difference ceased after 15 min. Our results show that phenotypic plasticity in wing coloration is adaptive since temperature-induced developmental changes provide thermobiological benefit in adult butterflies. We propose that, in subpolar latitudes, darker coloration likely has a selection advantage favoring individuals with reaction norms gradually shifted to stronger pigmented phenotypes, possibly leading to the establishment of a pigmentation cline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Markl
- Department of GeosciencesUniversity of TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Shannon Ottmann
- Animal Physiological Ecology GroupInstitute of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Tobias Haasis
- Animal Physiological Ecology GroupInstitute of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Daniela Budach
- Department of GeosciencesUniversity of TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Stefanie Krais
- Animal Physiological Ecology GroupInstitute of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Heinz‐R. Köhler
- Animal Physiological Ecology GroupInstitute of Evolution and EcologyUniversity of TübingenTübingenGermany
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4
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Dhillon MK, Tanwar AK, Hasan F, Bhadauriya AS. Phenotypic variation in adults of
Chilo
partellus
(Swinhoe) from diverse ecological regions of India. ACTA ZOOL-STOCKHOLM 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/azo.12377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh K. Dhillon
- Division of Entomology ICAR‐Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi India
| | - Aditya K. Tanwar
- Division of Entomology ICAR‐Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi India
| | - Fazil Hasan
- Division of Entomology ICAR‐Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi India
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5
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Rosa E, Saastamoinen M. Beyond thermal melanism: association of wing melanization with fitness and flight behaviour in a butterfly. Anim Behav 2020; 167:275-288. [PMID: 32952201 PMCID: PMC7487764 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cold developmental conditions can greatly affect adult life history of ectotherms in seasonal habitats. Such effects are mostly negative, but sometimes adaptive. Here, we tested how cold conditions experienced during pupal development affect adult wing melanization of an insect ectotherm, the Glanville fritillary butterfly, Melitaea cinxia. We also assessed how in turn previous cold exposure and increased melanization can shape adult behaviour and fitness, by monitoring individuals in a seminatural set-up. We found that, despite pupal cold exposure inducing more melanization, wing melanization was not linked to adult thermoregulation preceding flight, under the conditions tested. Conversely, wing-vibrating behaviour had a major role in producing heat preceding flight. Moreover, more melanized individuals were more mobile across the experimental set-up. This may be caused by a direct impact of melanization on flight ability or a more indirect impact of coloration on behaviours such as mate search strategies and/or eagerness to disperse to more suitable mating habitats. We also found that more melanized individuals of both sexes had reduced mating success and produced fewer offspring, which suggests a clear fitness cost of melanization. Whether the reduced mating success is dictated by impaired mate search behaviour, reduced physical condition leading to a lower dominance status or weakened visual signalling remains unknown. In conclusion, while there was no clear role of melanization in providing a thermal advantage under our seminatural conditions, we found a fitness cost of being more melanized, which potentially impacted adult space use behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Rosa
- Life-history Evolution Research Group, University of Helsinki, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjo Saastamoinen
- Life-history Evolution Research Group, University of Helsinki, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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6
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Zaman K, Hubert MK, Schoville SD. Testing the role of ecological selection on colour pattern variation in the butterfly
Parnassius clodius. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:5086-5102. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Khuram Zaman
- Department of Entomology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison WI USA
| | - Mryia K. Hubert
- Department of Entomology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison WI USA
| | - Sean D. Schoville
- Department of Entomology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison WI USA
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7
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Goff J, Yerke C, Keyghobadi N, Matter SF. Dispersing male Parnassius smintheus butterflies are more strongly affected by forest matrix than are females. INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 26:932-944. [PMID: 29575558 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Dispersal is a central aspect of the ecology, evolution, and conservation of species. Predicting how species will respond to changing environmental conditions requires understanding factors that produce variation in dispersal. We explore one source of variation, differences between sexes within a spatial population network. Here, we compare the dispersal patterns of male and female Parnassius smintheus among 18 subpopulations over 8 years using the Virtual Migration Model. Estimated dispersal parameters differed between males and females, particularly with respect to movement through meadow and forest matrix habitat. The estimated dispersal distances of males through forest were much less than for females. Observations of female movement showed that, unlike males, females do not avoid forest nor does forest exert an edge effect. We explored whether further forest encroachment in this system would have different effects for males and females by fitting mean parameter estimates to the landscape configuration seen in 1993 and 2012. Despite differences in their dispersal due presumably to both habitat and physiological differences, males and females are predicted to respond in similar ways to reduced meadow area and increased forest isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Goff
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Catherine Yerke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Stephen F Matter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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8
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Günter F, Beaulieu M, Brunetti M, Lange L, Schmitz Ornés A, Fischer K. Latitudinal and altitudinal variation in ecologically important traits in a widespread butterfly. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Understanding how organisms adapt to complex environments lies at the very heart of evolutionary biology and ecology, and is of particular concern in the current era of anthropogenic global change. Variation in ecologically important traits associated with environmental gradients is considered to be strong evidence for adaptive responses. Here, we study phenotypic variation along a latitudinal and an altitudinal cline in 968 field-collected males of the widespread European butterfly Pieris napi. In contrast to our expectations, body size decreased with increasing latitude and altitude, suggesting that warmer rather than cooler conditions may be more beneficial for individual development in this species. Higher altitudes but not latitudes seemed to be associated with increased flight performance, suggesting stronger challenges for flight activity in high-altitude environments (e.g. due to strong wind). Moreover, wing melanization increased while yellow reflectance decreased towards colder environments in both clines. Thus, increased melanization under thermally challenging conditions seems to compromise investment into a sexually selected trait, resulting in a trade-off. Our study, although exclusively based on field-collected males, revealed indications of adaptive patterns along geographical clines. It documents the usefulness of field-collected specimens, and the strength of comparing latitudinal and altitudinal clines to identify traits being potentially under thermal selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Günter
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michaël Beaulieu
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Massimo Brunetti
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lena Lange
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Klaus Fischer
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
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9
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Echevarría Ramos M, Hulshof CM. Using digitized museum collections to understand the effects of habitat on wing coloration in the Puerto Rican monarch. Biotropica 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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10
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Liao H, Du T, Zhang Y, Shi L, Huai X, Zhou C, Deng J. Capacity for heat absorption by the wings of the butterfly Tirumala limniace (Cramer). PeerJ 2019; 7:e6648. [PMID: 30941273 PMCID: PMC6438159 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Butterflies can directly absorb heat from the sun via their wings to facilitate autonomous flight. However, how is the heat absorbed by the butterfly from sunlight stored and transmitted in the wing? The answer to this scientific question remains unclear. The butterfly Tirumala limniace (Cramer) is a typical heat absorption insect, and its wing surface color is only composed of light and dark colors. Thus, in this study, we measured a number of wing traits relevant for heat absorption including the thoracic temperature at different light intensities and wing opening angles, the thoracic temperature of butterflies with only one right fore wing or one right hind wing; In addition, the spectral reflectance of the wing surfaces, the thoracic temperature of butterflies with the scales removed or present in light or dark areas, and the real-time changes in heat absorption by the wing surfaces with temperature were also measured. We found that high intensity light (600–60,000 lx) allowed the butterflies to absorb more heat and 60−90° was the optimal angle for heat absorption. The heat absorption capacity was stronger in the fore wings than the hind wings. Dark areas on the wing surfaces were heat absorption areas. The dark areas in the lower region of the fore wing surface and the inside region of the hind wing surface were heat storage areas. Heat was transferred from the heat storage areas to the wing base through the veins near the heat storage areas of the fore and hind wings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaijian Liao
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Leisure Agriculture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Du
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqi Zhang
- College of Life Science, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Shi
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiyu Huai
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengli Zhou
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang Deng
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
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11
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Stelbrink P, Pinkert S, Brunzel S, Kerr J, Wheat CW, Brandl R, Zeuss D. Colour lightness of butterfly assemblages across North America and Europe. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1760. [PMID: 30741964 PMCID: PMC6370790 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36761-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanin-based dark colouration is beneficial for insects as it increases the absorption of solar energy and protects against pathogens. Thus, it is expected that insect colouration is darker in colder regions and in regions with high humidity, where it is assumed that pathogen pressure is highest. These relationships between colour lightness, insect distribution, and climate between taxa and subtaxa across continents have never been tested and compared. Here we analysed the colour lightness of nearly all butterfly species of North America and Europe using the average colour lightness of species occurring within 50 km × 50 km grid cells across both continents as the dependent variable and average insolation, temperature and humidity within grid cells as explanatory variables. We compared the direction, strength and shape of these relationships between butterfly families and continents. On both continents, butterfly assemblages in colder and more humid regions were generally darker coloured than assemblages in warmer and less humid regions. Although these relationships differed in detail between families, overall trends within families on both continents were similar. Our results add further support for the importance of insect colour lightness as a mechanistic adaptation to climate that influences biogeographical patterns of species distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Stelbrink
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology - Animal Ecology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 8, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Pinkert
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology - Animal Ecology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 8, 35043, Marburg, Germany.,Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Forestry, Department of Biodiversity and Species Conservation, University of Applied Science Erfurt, Leipziger Strasse 77, 99085, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Stefan Brunzel
- Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Forestry, Department of Biodiversity and Species Conservation, University of Applied Science Erfurt, Leipziger Strasse 77, 99085, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Jeremy Kerr
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Roland Brandl
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology - Animal Ecology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 8, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Zeuss
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology - Animal Ecology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 8, 35043, Marburg, Germany. .,Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
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12
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Dalrymple RL, Flores‐Moreno H, Kemp DJ, White TE, Laffan SW, Hemmings FA, Hitchcock TD, Moles AT. Abiotic and biotic predictors of macroecological patterns in bird and butterfly coloration. ECOL MONOGR 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon L. Dalrymple
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences UNSW Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Habacuc Flores‐Moreno
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
- Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota 55108USA
| | - Darrell J. Kemp
- Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science and Engineering Macquarie University North Ryde, Sydney New South Wales 2109 Australia
| | - Thomas E. White
- Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science and Engineering Macquarie University North Ryde, Sydney New South Wales 2109 Australia
| | - Shawn W. Laffan
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences UNSW Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Frank A. Hemmings
- John T. Waterhouse Herbarium School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences UNSW Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Timothy D. Hitchcock
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences UNSW Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Angela T. Moles
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences UNSW Sydney Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
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13
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Moraes SDS, Cardoso LW, Silva-brandÃo KL, Duarte M. Extreme sexual dimorphism and polymorphism in two species of the tiger moth genus Dysschema (Lepidoptera: Erebidae): association between males and females, sexual mimicry and melanism revealed by integrative taxonomy. SYST BIODIVERS 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2016.1250835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- SimeÃo De Souza Moraes
- Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucas Waldvogel Cardoso
- Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karina Lucas Silva-brandÃo
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Duarte
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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14
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Xing S, Bonebrake TC, Tang CC, Pickett EJ, Cheng W, Greenspan SE, Williams SE, Scheffers BR. Cool habitats support darker and bigger butterflies in Australian tropical forests. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8062-8074. [PMID: 27878078 PMCID: PMC5108258 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Morphology mediates the relationship between an organism's body temperature and its environment. Dark organisms, for example, tend to absorb heat more quickly than lighter individuals, which could influence their responses to temperature. Therefore, temperature‐related traits such as morphology may affect patterns of species abundance, richness, and community assembly across a broad range of spatial scales. In this study, we examined variation in color lightness and body size within butterfly communities across hot and cool habitats in the tropical woodland–rainforest ecosystems of northeast Queensland, Australia. Using thermal imaging, we documented the absorption of solar radiation relative to color lightness and wingspan and then built a phylogenetic tree based on available sequences to analyze the effects of habitat on these traits within a phylogenetic framework. In general, darker and larger individuals were more prevalent in cool, closed‐canopy rainforests than in immediately adjacent and hotter open woodlands. In addition, darker and larger butterflies preferred to be active in the shade and during crepuscular hours, while lighter and smaller butterflies were more active in the sun and midday hours—a pattern that held after correcting for phylogeny. Our ex situ experiment supported field observations that dark and large butterflies heated up faster than light and small butterflies under standardized environmental conditions. Our results show a thermal consequence of butterfly morphology across habitats and how environmental factors at a microhabitat scale may affect the distribution of species based on these traits. Furthermore, this study highlights how butterfly species might differentially respond to warming based on ecophysiological traits and how thermal refuges might emerge at microclimatic and habitat scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Xing
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | | | - Chin Cheung Tang
- School of Science and Technology The Open University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Evan J Pickett
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Wenda Cheng
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Sasha E Greenspan
- College of Marine and Environmental Science James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
| | - Stephen E Williams
- College of Marine and Environmental Science James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
| | - Brett R Scheffers
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL 32611 USA
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15
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Dubey A, Omkar, Mishra G. Influence of temperature on reproductive biology and phenotype of a ladybird, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). J Therm Biol 2016; 58:35-42. [PMID: 27157332 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Body melanisation in insects is polygenic, resulting from genetic polymorphism or phenotypic plasticity, with diverse implications ranging from thermal budgeting to reproductive success. In this study, we assessed the, mate choice, reproductive success, and offspring colouration of typical (T) and melanic (M) morphs of the ladybird Menochilus sexmaculatus paired at three temperatures 15°C, 25°C and 35°C. Mating success of the two morphs and the consequences for offspring fitness and offspring phenotype under these temperature regimes were evaluated. Melanic adults of both sexes achieved significantly higher mating success at 15°C and 25°C, but at 35°C no influence of adult morph on mate selection was observed. Melanic females were more fecund than typical females at all temperatures. Offspring of melanic parents developed faster than those of typicals at 15°C and 25°C, but not at 35°C. Evidence was also found of phenotypic plasticity in colour form at 15°C and 35°C. At 25°C the parents of pure (T) and (M) morphs produced offspring of the same morph. However, low temperature induced partial melanisation among the offspring of typical parents (T). Whereas at 35°C the offspring of (T) parents became paler in colour with very fine zigzag lines on elytra, i.e. they decrease the degree of melanisation. Pure melanics (M) compensated for elevated temperature stress by producing offspring that were either pure melanic but small or large with reduced melanisation. Our results on offspring phenotype variation indicate that the degree of melanism in morphs is a result of environmentally regulated expression of the parental genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dubey
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India.
| | - Omkar
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India.
| | - G Mishra
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India.
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16
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Svensson EI, Waller JT. Ecology and Sexual Selection: Evolution of Wing Pigmentation in Calopterygid Damselflies in Relation to Latitude, Sexual Dimorphism, and Speciation. Am Nat 2013; 182:E174-95. [DOI: 10.1086/673206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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17
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Hanley D, Miller NG, Flockhart DT, Norris DR. Forewing pigmentation predicts migration distance in wild-caught migratory monarch butterflies. Behav Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/art037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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18
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Hegna RH, Nokelainen O, Hegna JR, Mappes J. To quiver or to shiver: increased melanization benefits thermoregulation, but reduces warning signal efficacy in the wood tiger moth. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20122812. [PMID: 23363631 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.2812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanin production is often considered costly, yet beneficial for thermoregulation. Studies of variation in melanization and the opposing selective forces that underlie its variability contribute greatly to understanding natural selection. We investigated whether melanization benefits are traded off with predation risk to promote observed local and geographical variation in the warning signal of adult male wood tiger moths (Parasemia plantaginis). Warning signal variation is predicted to reduce survival in aposematic species. However, in P. plantaginis, male hindwings are either yellow or white in Europe, and show continuous variation in melanized markings that cover 20 to 90 per cent of the hindwing. We found that the amount of melanization increased from 40 to 59 per cent between Estonia (58° N) and north Finland (67° N), suggesting melanization carries thermoregulatory benefits. Our thermal measurements showed that more melanic individuals warmed up more quickly on average than less melanic individuals, which probably benefits flight in cold temperatures. With extensive field experiments in central Finland and the Alpine region, we found that more melanic individuals suffered increased predation. Together, our data suggest that warning signal efficiency is constrained by thermoregulatory benefits. Differences in relative costs and benefits of melanin probably help to maintain the geographical warning signal differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Hegna
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Jyväskylä, Survontie 9, Jyväskylä, Finland.
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19
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Umbers KDL, Herberstein ME, Madin JS. Colour in insect thermoregulation: empirical and theoretical tests in the colour-changing grasshopper, Kosciuscola tristis. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 59:81-90. [PMID: 23108152 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2012.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Revised: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/17/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Body colours can result in different internal body temperatures, but evidence for the biological significance of colour-induced temperature differences is inconsistent. We investigated the relationship between body colour and temperature in a model insect species that rapidly changes colour. We used an empirical approach and constructed a heat budget model to quantify whether a colour change from black to turquoise has a role in thermoregulation for the chameleon grasshopper (Kosciuscola tristis). Our study shows that colour change in K. tristis provides relatively small temperature differences that vary greatly with wind speed (0.55 °C at ms(-1) to 0.05 °C at 10 ms(-1)). The biological significance of this difference is unclear and we discuss the requirement for more studies that directly test hypotheses regarding the fitness effects of colour in manipulating body temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- K D L Umbers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
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20
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Harris RM, McQuillan P, Hughes L. A test of the thermal melanism hypothesis in the wingless grasshopper Phaulacridium vittatum. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2013; 13:51. [PMID: 23909454 PMCID: PMC3740933 DOI: 10.1673/031.013.5101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Altitudinal clines in melanism are generally assumed to reflect the fitness benefits resulting from thermal differences between colour morphs, yet differences in thermal quality are not always discernible. The intra-specific application of the thermal melanism hypothesis was tested in the wingless grasshopper Phaulacridium vittatum (Sjöstedt) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) first by measuring the thermal properties of the different colour morphs in the laboratory, and second by testing for differences in average reflectance and spectral characteristics of populations along 14 altitudinal gradients. Correlations between reflectance, body size, and climatic variables were also tested to investigate the underlying causes of clines in melanism. Melanism in P. vittatum represents a gradation in colour rather than distinct colour morphs, with reflectance ranging from 2.49 to 5.65%. In unstriped grasshoppers, darker morphs warmed more rapidly than lighter morphs and reached a higher maximum temperature (lower temperature excess). In contrast, significant differences in thermal quality were not found between the colour morphs of striped grasshoppers. In support of the thermal melanism hypothesis, grasshoppers were, on average, darker at higher altitudes, there were differences in the spectral properties of brightness and chroma between high and low altitudes, and temperature variables were significant influences on the average reflectance of female grasshoppers. However, altitudinal gradients do not represent predictable variation in temperature, and the relationship between melanism and altitude was not consistent across all gradients. Grasshoppers generally became darker at altitudes above 800 m a.s.l., but on several gradients reflectance declined with altitude and then increased at the highest altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M. Harris
- School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 78 Hobart, 7001, Australia
| | - Peter McQuillan
- School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 78 Hobart, 7001, Australia
| | - Lesley Hughes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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21
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Tuomaala M, Kaitala A, Rutowski RL. Females show greater changes in wing colour with latitude than males in the green-veined white butterfly,Pieris napi(Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.01996.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tuomaala
- Department of Biology; University of Oulu; PO Box 3000; FI-90014; Oulu; Finland
| | - Arja Kaitala
- Department of Biology; University of Oulu; PO Box 3000; FI-90014; Oulu; Finland
| | - Ronald L. Rutowski
- School of Life Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe; AZ; 85287-4501; USA
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22
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Davis AK, Chi J, Bradley C, Altizer S. The redder the better: wing color predicts flight performance in monarch butterflies. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41323. [PMID: 22848463 PMCID: PMC3405115 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 06/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The distinctive orange and black wings of monarchs (Danaus plexippus) have long been known to advertise their bitter taste and toxicity to potential predators. Recent work also showed that both the orange and black coloration of this species can vary in response to individual-level and environmental factors. Here we examine the relationship between wing color and flight performance in captive-reared monarchs using a tethered flight mill apparatus to quantify butterfly flight speed, duration and distance. In three different experiments (totaling 121 individuals) we used image analysis to measure body size and four wing traits among newly-emerged butterflies prior to flight trials: wing area, aspect ratio (length/width), melanism, and orange hue. Results showed that monarchs with darker orange (approaching red) wings flew longer distances than those with lighter orange wings in analyses that controlled for sex and other morphometric traits. This finding is consistent with past work showing that among wild monarchs, those sampled during the fall migration are darker in hue (redder) than non-migratory monarchs. Together, these results suggest that pigment deposition onto wing scales during metamorphosis could be linked with traits that influence flight, such as thorax muscle size, energy storage or metabolism. Our results reinforce an association between wing color and flight performance in insects that is suggested by past studies of wing melansim and seasonal polyphenism, and provide an important starting point for work focused on mechanistic links between insect movement and color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew K Davis
- Odum School of Ecology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
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23
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Michie LJ, Mallard F, Majerus MEN, Jiggins FM. Melanic through nature or nurture: genetic polymorphism and phenotypic plasticity in Harmonia axyridis. J Evol Biol 2010; 23:1699-707. [PMID: 20626543 DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02043.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Individuals can adapt to heterogeneity in their environment through either local adaptation or phenotypic plasticity. Colour forms of the ladybird Harmonia axyridis are a classic example of local adaptation, in which the frequency of melanic forms varies greatly between populations. In some populations, there are also large seasonal changes in allele frequency, with melanism being costly in summer and beneficial in winter. We report that the non-melanic morph of H. axyridis dramatically increases its degree of melanization at cold temperatures. Furthermore, there is genetic variation in reaction norms, with different families responding to temperature in different ways. Variation at different spatial and temporal scales appears to have selected for either genetic or phenotypically plastic adaptations, which may be important in thermoregulation. As melanism is known to have a large effect on fitness in H. axyridis, this plasticity of melanization may have hastened its spread as an invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Michie
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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24
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SCHOVILLE SEAND, RODERICK GEORGEK. Alpine biogeography of Parnassian butterflies during Quaternary climate cycles in North America. Mol Ecol 2009; 18:3471-85. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2009.04287.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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25
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Parkash R, Rajpurohit S, Ramniwas S. Impact of darker, intermediate and lighter phenotypes of body melanization on desiccation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2009; 9:1-10. [PMID: 20050769 PMCID: PMC3011941 DOI: 10.1673/031.009.4901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2007] [Accepted: 06/20/2008] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A possible link between melanization and desiccation resistance can be inferred if within population differences in melanization find significant correlations with desiccation resistance and its mechanistic basis i.e. rate of water loss/hr. Accordingly, darker, intermediate and lighter phenotypes of body melanization were analyzed in wild and laboratory reared Drosophila melanogaster L. (Diptera: Clyclorrapha) populations from highland and lowland sites located in close proximity at five different latitudinal locations (11.15 degrees N to 31.06 degrees N) within the Indian subcontinent. In large population samples, occurrence of significant within population variability made it possible to assort non-overlapping phenotypes of body coloration (i.e. lighter (< 25%), intermediate (30 to 40%) and darker (> 45%)) for all the populations which were further investigated for desiccation resistance and rate of water loss/hr. Significantly, higher desiccation resistance but much reduced rate of water loss/hr were observed in darker and intermediate phenotypes in all the populations. By contrast, lighter phenotypes exhibited lower desiccation tolerance but higher rate of water loss/hr. A regression analysis between traits provided similar slope values for wild and laboratory populations. For all three physiological traits, predicted trait values from multiple regression analysis as a simultaneous function of annual average temperature and relative humidity, matched the observed values. We infer that parallel changes in melanization and desiccation resistance may result from decreasing annual average temperature and relative humidity along increasing latitude as well as altitude on the Indian subcontinent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Parkash
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak |2400|, India
| | - Subhash Rajpurohit
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak |2400|, India
- Current address: School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4004, USA
| | - Seema Ramniwas
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak |2400|, India
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26
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Lee KP, Simpson SJ, Wilson K. Dietary protein-quality influences melanization and immune function in an insect. Funct Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01459.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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27
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Merckx T, Van Dongen S, Matthysen E, Van Dyck H. Thermal flight budget of a woodland butterfly in woodland versus agricultural landscapes: An experimental assessment. Basic Appl Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2007.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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28
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Parkash R, Rajpurohit S, Ramniwas S. Changes in body melanisation and desiccation resistance in highland vs. lowland populations of D. melanogaster. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2008; 54:1050-1056. [PMID: 18519137 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2007] [Revised: 04/08/2008] [Accepted: 04/10/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Wild caught samples of Drosophila melanogaster from five highland localities showed parallel changes in melanisation and desiccation resistance in darker versus lighter phenotypes, i.e. darker flies (>45% melanisation) showed significantly higher desiccation resistance than lighter flies (<30% melanisation). In order to find an association between body melanisation and desiccation resistance, highland and lowland populations from tropical and subtropical regions (11.15-31.06 degrees N) of the Indian subcontinent were raised and investigated at 21 degrees C for four physiological traits, i.e. per cent body melanisation, desiccation resistance, rate of water loss and rate of water absorption. On the basis of mother-offspring regression, body melanisation and desiccation resistance showed higher heritability (0.58-0.68) and thus these traits are suitable for laboratory analyses. Significantly higher melanisation as well as desiccation resistance were observed in highland populations as compared with lowland populations. The rates of water loss as well as absorption were negatively correlated with body melanisation, i.e. darker flies from highlands showed a reduced rate of water loss as well as a lower rate of water absorption while the reverse trend was observed in lighter flies from lowlands. On the basis of multiple regressions, significant effects due to combined altitude and latitude were observed for all the four physiological traits. Local climatic conditions (i.e. annual average temperature and relative humidity) helped in explaining parallel changes in body melanisation and desiccation resistance in D. melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Parkash
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001, India.
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29
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SHREEVE TG, SMITH AG. The role of weather-related habitat use on the impact of the European speckled wood Pararge aegeria on the endemic Pararge xiphia on the island of Madeira. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1992.tb00850.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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30
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SHREEVE TG, DENNIS RLH. The development of butterfly settling posture: the role of predators, climate, hostplant-habitat and phylogeny. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1992.tb00631.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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31
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Sandre SL, Tammaru T, Vanatoa A, Esperk T. Maintenance of larval color polymorphism in Orgyia antiqua (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae): evaluating the role of thermal adaptation. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2007; 36:1303-1309. [PMID: 18284757 DOI: 10.1603/0046-225x(2007)36[1303:molcpi]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Intraspecific color polymorphism is widespread in insects, and various mechanisms have been proposed to explain its maintenance. Some explanations rely on the effect of body color on the organism's thermal physiology. Darker individuals accumulate solar energy more efficiently, and therefore, dark body coloration in insects is frequently presumed to be an adaptation to low temperature conditions. However, it is largely unclear what is the importance of the thermal biology in comparison to other potential selective forces on body coloration. In this study, we evaluated the role of temperature as a potential selective factor maintaining color polymorphism in aposematic larvae of the moth Orgyia antiqua L. It was found that darker, and thus less aposematic, larvae accumulated solar energy more efficiently. However, in a set of laboratory and outdoor experiments, we found no evidence of temperature-dependent performance of different color morphs or in development of different morphs induced by rearing temperature. We conclude that the effects related to thermal physiology are not likely important determinants of optimal coloration in O. antiqua. The reasons may lie in high mobility of the larvae, which allows for effective behavioral thermoregulation, which is also shown in this study. Our results caution against an uncritical extrapolation of results obtained for model organisms and indicate the need for giving more attention to the species-specific ecological background in ecophysiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siiri-Lii Sandre
- Institute of Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014 Tartu, Estonia.
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32
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33
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Howe PD, Bryant SR, Shreeve TG. Predicting body temperature and activity of adult Polyommatus icarus using neural network models under current and projected climate scenarios. Oecologia 2007; 153:857-69. [PMID: 17587061 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-007-0782-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2007] [Accepted: 05/22/2007] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We use field observations in two geographic regions within the British Isles and regression and neural network models to examine the relationship between microhabitat use, thoracic temperatures and activity in a widespread lycaenid butterfly, Polyommatus icarus. We also make predictions for future activity under climate change scenarios. Individuals from a univoltine northern population initiated flight with significantly lower thoracic temperatures than individuals from a bivoltine southern population. Activity is dependent on body temperature and neural network models of body temperature are better at predicting body temperature than generalized linear models. Neural network models of activity with a sole input of predicted body temperature (using weather and microclimate variables) are good predictors of observed activity and were better predictors than generalized linear models. By modelling activity under climate change scenarios for 2080 we predict differences in activity in relation to both regional differences of climate change and differing body temperature requirements for activity in different populations. Under average conditions for low-emission scenarios there will be little change in the activity of individuals from central-southern Britain and a reduction in northwest Scotland from 2003 activity levels. Under high-emission scenarios, flight-dependent activity in northwest Scotland will increase the greatest, despite smaller predicted increases in temperature and decreases in cloud cover. We suggest that neural network models are an effective way of predicting future activity in changing climates for microhabitat-specialist butterflies and that regional differences in the thermoregulatory response of populations will have profound effects on how they respond to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- P D Howe
- School of Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
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34
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Keyghobadi N, Roland J, Strobeck C. Genetic differentiation and gene flow among populations of the alpine butterfly, Parnassius smintheus, vary with landscape connectivity. Mol Ecol 2005; 14:1897-909. [PMID: 15910314 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2005.02563.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Levels of gene flow among populations vary both inter- and intraspecifically, and understanding the ecological bases of variation in levels of gene flow represents an important link between the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of populations. The effects of habitat spatial structure on gene flow have received considerable attention; however, most studies have been conducted at a single spatial scale and without background data on how individual movement is affected by landscape features. We examined the influence of habitat connectivity on inferred levels of gene flow in a high-altitude, meadow-dwelling butterfly, Parnassius smintheus. For this species, we had background data on the effects of landscape structure on both individual movement and on small-scale population genetic differentiation. We compared genetic differentiation and patterns of isolation by distance, based on variation at seven microsatellite loci, among three regions representing two levels of connectivity of high-altitude, nonforested habitats. We found that reduced connectivity of habitats, resulting from more forest cover at high altitudes, was associated with greater genetic differentiation among populations (higher estimated FST), a breakdown of isolation by distance, and overall lower levels of inferred gene flow. These observed differences were consistent with expectations based on our knowledge of the movement behaviour of this species and on previous population genetic analyses conducted at the smaller spatial scale. Our results indicate that the role of gene flow may vary among groups of populations depending on the interplay between individual movement and the structure of the surrounding landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nusha Keyghobadi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E9.
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35
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ELLERS JACINTHA, BOGGS CAROLL. Functional ecological implications of intraspecific differences in wing melanization in Colias butterflies. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2004. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2004.00319.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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36
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Talloen W, Van Dyck H, Lens L. THE COST OF MELANIZATION: BUTTERFLY WING COLORATION UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS. Evolution 2004. [DOI: 10.1554/03-250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Ellers J, Boggs CL. The evolution of wing color in Colias butterflies: heritability, sex linkage, and population divergence. Evolution 2002; 56:836-40. [PMID: 12038541 DOI: 10.1111/j.0014-3820.2002.tb01394.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the genetic background of intraspecific variation in wing color across an elevational gradient in the butterfly Colias philodice eriphyle. The degree of wing melanization was an accelerating function of elevation, and differences in wing melanization persisted in a common environment. Full-sibling analysis and parent-offspring regression yielded consistent, moderate to high heritabilities for the degree of wing melanization. The breeding experiments also demonstrated that wing melanization is strongly sex linked. Because traits that differentiate sister species also tend to be sex linked, our results suggest that the genetic mechanisms underlying intraspecific differences in wing melanization are not fundamentally different from those that have been shown to differentiate sister species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacintha Ellers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, California 94305-5020, USA.
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40
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Ellers J, Boggs CL. THE EVOLUTION OF WING COLOR IN COLIAS BUTTERFLIES: HERITABILITY, SEX LINKAGE, AND POPULATION DIVERGENCE. Evolution 2002. [DOI: 10.1554/0014-3820(2002)056[0836:teowci]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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41
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42
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Thermal characterization of butterfly wings—1. Absorption in relation to different color, surface structure and basking type. J Therm Biol 1994. [DOI: 10.1016/0306-4565(94)90039-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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