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Page E, Queste LM, Rosser N, Salazar PA, Nadeau NJ, Mallet J, Srygley RB, McMillan WO, Dasmahapatra KK. Pervasive mimicry in flight behavior among aposematic butterflies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2300886121. [PMID: 38408213 PMCID: PMC10945825 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300886121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Flight was a key innovation in the adaptive radiation of insects. However, it is a complex trait influenced by a large number of interacting biotic and abiotic factors, making it difficult to unravel the evolutionary drivers. We investigate flight patterns in neotropical heliconiine butterflies, well known for mimicry of their aposematic wing color patterns. We quantify the flight patterns (wing beat frequency and wing angles) of 351 individuals representing 29 heliconiine and 9 ithomiine species belonging to ten color pattern mimicry groupings. For wing beat frequency and up wing angles, we show that heliconiine species group by color pattern mimicry affiliation. Convergence of down wing angles to mimicry groupings is less pronounced, indicating that distinct components of flight are under different selection pressures and constraints. The flight characteristics of the Tiger mimicry group are particularly divergent due to convergence with distantly related ithomiine species. Predator-driven selection for mimicry also explained variation in flight among subspecies, indicating that this convergence can occur over relatively short evolutionary timescales. Our results suggest that the flight convergence is driven by aposematic signaling rather than shared habitat between comimics. We demonstrate that behavioral mimicry can occur between lineages that have separated over evolutionary timescales ranging from <0.5 to 70 My.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Page
- Department of Biology, University of York, HeslingtonYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Lucie M. Queste
- Department of Biology, University of York, HeslingtonYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried82152, Germany
| | - Neil Rosser
- Department of Biology, University of York, HeslingtonYO10 5DD, United Kingdom
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Patricio A. Salazar
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, SheffieldS10 2TN, United Kingdom
- Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, CambridgeCB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J. Nadeau
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, SheffieldS10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - James Mallet
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Robert B. Srygley
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, Panamá0843-03092, Republic of Panama
- Pest Management Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Sidney, MT59270
| | - W. Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado, Panamá0843-03092, Republic of Panama
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2
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Van Belleghem SM, Alicea Roman PA, Carbia Gutierrez H, Counterman BA, Papa R. Perfect mimicry between Heliconius butterflies is constrained by genetics and development. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201267. [PMID: 32693728 PMCID: PMC7423669 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paola A Alicea Roman
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.,Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Humacao, Puerto Rico
| | - Heriberto Carbia Gutierrez
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.,Department of Mathematics, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
| | - Brian A Counterman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Riccardo Papa
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution, Panama, Republic of Panama.,Molecular Sciences and Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
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3
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Mérot C, Debat V, Le Poul Y, Merrill RM, Naisbit RE, Tholance A, Jiggins CD, Joron M. Hybridization and transgressive exploration of colour pattern and wing morphology in Heliconius butterflies. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:942-956. [PMID: 32255231 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hybridization can generate novel phenotypes distinct from those of parental lineages, a phenomenon known as transgressive trait variation. Transgressive phenotypes might negatively or positively affect hybrid fitness, and increase available variation. Closely related species of Heliconius butterflies regularly produce hybrids in nature, and hybridization is thought to play a role in the diversification of novel wing colour patterns despite strong stabilizing selection due to interspecific mimicry. Here, we studied wing phenotypes in first- and second-generation hybrids produced by controlled crosses between either two co-mimetic species of Heliconius or between two nonmimetic species. We quantified wing size, shape and colour pattern variation and asked whether hybrids displayed transgressive wing phenotypes. Discrete traits underlain by major-effect loci, such as the presence or absence of colour patches, generate novel phenotypes. For quantitative traits, such as wing shape or subtle colour pattern characters, hybrids only exceed the parental range in specific dimensions of the morphological space. Overall, our study addresses some of the challenges in defining and measuring phenotypic transgression for multivariate traits and our data suggest that the extent to which transgressive trait variation in hybrids contributes to phenotypic diversity depends on the complexity and the genetic architecture of the traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Mérot
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France.,IBIS, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Vincent Debat
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Yann Le Poul
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France.,Division of Evolutionary Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany
| | - Richard M Merrill
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany.,Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Russell E Naisbit
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama.,Institute for Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adélie Tholance
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Mathieu Joron
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France.,UMR 5175, CNRS-Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Montpellier, France
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4
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Montejo‐Kovacevich G, Smith JE, Meier JI, Bacquet CN, Whiltshire‐Romero E, Nadeau NJ, Jiggins CD. Altitude and life-history shape the evolution of Heliconius wings. Evolution 2019; 73:2436-2450. [PMID: 31631338 PMCID: PMC6916360 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic divergence between closely related species has long interested biologists. Taxa that inhabit a range of environments and have diverse natural histories can help understand how selection drives phenotypic divergence. In butterflies, wing color patterns have been extensively studied but diversity in wing shape and size is less well understood. Here, we assess the relative importance of phylogenetic relatedness, natural history, and habitat on shaping wing morphology in a large dataset of over 3500 individuals, representing 13 Heliconius species from across the Neotropics. We find that both larval and adult behavioral ecology correlate with patterns of wing sexual dimorphism and adult size. Species with solitary larvae have larger adult males, in contrast to gregarious Heliconius species, and indeed most Lepidoptera, where females are larger. Species in the pupal-mating clade are smaller than those in the adult-mating clade. Interestingly, we find that high-altitude species tend to have rounder wings and, in one of the two major Heliconius clades, are also bigger than their lowland relatives. Furthermore, within two widespread species, we find that high-altitude populations also have rounder wings. Thus, we reveal novel adaptive wing morphological divergence among Heliconius species beyond that imposed by natural selection on aposematic wing coloration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joana I. Meier
- St John's CollegeUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 1TP
| | | | | | - Nicola J. Nadeau
- Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldS10 2TNUK
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5
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Dell'Aglio DD, Troscianko J, McMillan WO, Stevens M, Jiggins CD. The appearance of mimetic Heliconius butterflies to predators and conspecifics. Evolution 2018; 72:2156-2166. [PMID: 30129174 PMCID: PMC6221148 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Adaptive coloration is under conflicting selection pressures: choosing potential mates and warning signaling against visually guided predators. Different elements of the color signal may therefore be tuned by evolution for different functions. We investigated how mimicry in four pairs of Heliconius comimics is potentially seen both from the perspective of butterflies and birds. Visual sensitivities of eight candidate avian predators were predicted through genetic analysis of their opsin genes. Using digital image color analysis, combined with bird and butterfly visual system models, we explored how predators and conspecifics may visualize mimetic patterns. Ultraviolet vision (UVS) birds are able to discriminate between the yellow and white colors of comimics better than violet vision (VS) birds. For Heliconius vision, males and females differ in their ability to discriminate comimics. Female vision and red filtering pigments have a significant effect on the perception of the yellow forewing band and the red ventral forewing pattern. A behavioral experiment showed that UV cues are used in mating behavior; removal of such cues was associated with an increased tendency to approach comimics as compared to conspecifics. We have therefore shown that visual signals can act to both reduce the cost of confusion in courtship and maintain the advantages of mimicry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Dalbosco Dell'Aglio
- Butterfly Genetics Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Jolyon Troscianko
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Martin Stevens
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Chris D Jiggins
- Butterfly Genetics Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
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6
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Caro T, Allen WL. Interspecific visual signalling in animals and plants: a functional classification. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0344. [PMID: 28533461 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms frequently gain advantages when they engage in signalling with individuals of other species. Here, we provide a functionally structured framework of the great variety of interspecific visual signals seen in nature, and then describe the different signalling mechanisms that have evolved in response to each of these functional requirements. We propose that interspecific visual signalling can be divided into six major functional categories: anti-predator, food acquisition, anti-parasite, host acquisition, reproductive and agonistic signalling, with each function enabled by several distinct mechanisms. We support our classification by reviewing the ecological and behavioural drivers of interspecific signalling in animals and plants, principally focusing on comparative studies that address large-scale patterns of diversity. Collating diverse examples of interspecific signalling into an organized set of functional and mechanistic categories places anachronistic behavioural and morphological labels in fresh context, clarifies terminology and redirects research effort towards understanding environmental influences driving interspecific signalling in nature.This article is part of the themed issue 'Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Caro
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - William L Allen
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
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7
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Rossato DO, Boligon D, Fornel R, Kronforst MR, Gonçalves GL, Moreira GRP. Subtle variation in size and shape of the whole forewing and the red band among co-mimics revealed by geometric morphometric analysis in Heliconius butterflies. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:3280-3295. [PMID: 29607024 PMCID: PMC5869215 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Heliconius are unpalatable butterflies that exhibit remarkable intra- and interspecific variation in wing color pattern, specifically warning coloration. Species that have converged on the same pattern are often clustered in Müllerian mimicry rings. Overall, wing color patterns are nearly identical among co-mimics. However, fine-scale differences exist, indicating that factors in addition to natural selection may underlie wing phenotype. Here, we investigate differences in shape and size of the forewing and the red band in the Heliconius postman mimicry ring (H. erato phyllis and the co-mimics H. besckei, H. melpomene burchelli, and H. melpomene nanna) using a landmark-based approach. If phenotypic evolution is driven entirely by predation pressure, we expect nonsignificant differences among co-mimics in terms of wing shape. Also, a reinforcement of wing pattern (i.e., greater similarity) could occur when co-mimics are in sympatry. We also examined variation in the red forewing band because this trait is critical for both mimicry and sexual communication. Morphometric results revealed significant but small differences among species, particularly in the shape of the forewing of co-mimics. Although we did not observe greater similarity when co-mimics were in sympatry, nearly identical patterns provided evidence of convergence for mimicry. In contrast, mimetic pairs could be distinguished based on the shape (but not the size) of the red band, suggesting an "advergence" process. In addition, sexual dimorphism in the red band shape (but not size) was found for all lineages. Thus, we infer that natural selection due to predation by birds might not be the only mechanism responsible for variation in color patterns, and sexual selection could be an important driver of wing phenotypic evolution in this mimicry ring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirleane O Rossato
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Danessa Boligon
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões Erechim Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Fornel
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões Erechim Brazil
| | - Marcus R Kronforst
- Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Chicago Chicago MI USA
| | - Gislene L Gonçalves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal Instituto de Biociências Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre Brazil.,Departamento de Recursos Ambientales Facultad de Ciencias Agronomicas Universidad de Tarapacá Arica Chile
| | - Gilson R P Moreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal Instituto de Biociências Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre Brazil
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Winters AE, Green NF, Wilson NG, How MJ, Garson MJ, Marshall NJ, Cheney KL. Stabilizing selection on individual pattern elements of aposematic signals. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0926. [PMID: 28835556 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Warning signal variation is ubiquitous but paradoxical: low variability should aid recognition and learning by predators. However, spatial variability in the direction and strength of selection for individual elements of the warning signal may allow phenotypic variation for some components, but not others. Variation in selection may occur if predators only learn particular colour pattern components rather than the entire signal. Here, we used a nudibranch mollusc, Goniobranchus splendidus, which exhibits a conspicuous red spot/white body/yellow rim colour pattern, to test this hypothesis. We first demonstrated that secondary metabolites stored within the nudibranch were unpalatable to a marine organism. Using pattern analysis, we demonstrated that the yellow rim remained invariable within and between populations; however, red spots varied significantly in both colour and pattern. In behavioural experiments, a potential fish predator, Rhinecanthus aculeatus, used the presence of the yellow rims to recognize and avoid warning signals. Yellow rims remained stable in the presence of high genetic divergence among populations. We therefore suggest that how predators learn warning signals may cause stabilizing selection on individual colour pattern elements, and will thus have important implications on the evolution of warning signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E Winters
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Naomi F Green
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Nerida G Wilson
- Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia.,School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Martin J How
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Mary J Garson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - N Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Karen L Cheney
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.,Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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9
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Dalbosco Dell'Aglio D, Akkaynak D, McMillan WO, Jiggins CD. Estimating the age of Heliconius butterflies from calibrated photographs. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3821. [PMID: 28970967 PMCID: PMC5622606 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mating behaviour and predation avoidance in Heliconius involve visual colour signals; however, there is considerable inter-individual phenotypic variation in the appearance of colours. In particular, the red pigment varies from bright crimson to faded red. It has been thought that this variation is primarily due to pigment fading with age, although this has not been explicitly tested. Previous studies have shown the importance of red patterns in mate choice and that birds and butterflies might perceive these small colour differences. Using digital photography and calibrated colour images, we investigated whether the hue variation in the forewing dorsal red band of Heliconius melpomene rosina corresponds with age. We found that the red hue and age were highly associated, suggesting that red colour can indeed be used as a proxy for age in the study of wild-caught butterflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Dalbosco Dell'Aglio
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Derya Akkaynak
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
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