Review
Biology
Paul Chatelain, Marianne Elias, Colin Fontaine, Claire Villemant, Isabelle Dajoz, Adrien Perrard
Summary: Many bees and stinging wasps exhibit striking color patterns as a warning signal for their venomous sting. Despite numerous mimicry rings in aculeates, the study of mimicry in this group is underexplored. Aculeates may be one of the most diverse groups engaging in Mullerian mimicry, and understanding its impact on aculeate communities can help in pollinator conservation.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William Casey, Steven E. Massey, Bud Mishra
Summary: Mimicry is observed at various scales, with 'Batesian' and 'Mullerian' types representing different conflicts and common interests between sender and receiver. Studies suggest that invasion by Batesian mimics may destabilize Mullerian mimicry. Additionally, mimicry is not limited to the biological realm, but can also be found in human society.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Claire Goiran, Terri Shine, Richard Shine
Summary: The evolution of bright warning colors in nontoxic animals is often attributed to mimicry of toxic species. By pulling snake-shaped models through the water and observing the response of predatory fish, the study found that banded color patterns reduce the vulnerability of non-venomous marine snakes to predation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
James G. Ogilvie, Steven Van Belleghem, Ryan Range, Riccardo Papa, Owen W. McMillan, Mathieu Chouteau, Brian A. Counterman
Summary: The evolution of mimicry in similarly defended prey is well described by Mullerian mimicry theory, predicting convergence of warning patterns. However, there is great diversity of color patterns among Mullerian mimics like Heliconius butterflies. Some species have evolved to maintain multiple distinct warning patterns in single populations, known as polymorphic mimicry.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
David W. Kikuchi, Marie E. Herberstein, Michael Barfield, Robert D. Holt, Johanna Mappes
Summary: Warning signals are a striking example of natural selection present in almost every ecological community, but they remain relatively scarce compared to the total prey available. They are thought to be governed by positive density-dependent selection, where they succeed better when more common. Factors influencing the prevalence of warning signals in prey assemblages include prey defenses, predator behavior, numerical responses of predators, diversity of alternative prey and mimics, and variability in ecological circumstances.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Stano Pekar, Martin J. Whiting, Marie E. Herberstein
Summary: Many prey species use multiple defense strategies during interactions with predators, which can provide advantages against different types of predators. This study examined the defensive traits of five mimics and one non-mimetic species in the myrmecomorphic golden mimicry complex. Predatory trials were conducted using two predators with different characteristics. The results showed that multiple defenses were used against each predator, with some defenses being more effective against specific predators.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Correction
Genetics & Heredity
Paul Jay, Mathieu Chouteau, Annabel Whibley, Heloise Bastide, Hugues Parrinello, Violaine Llaurens, Mathieu Joron
Summary: The paper has been corrected.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ugo Lorioux-Chevalier, Mario Tuanama Valles, Stephanie Gallusser, Ronaldo Mori Pezo, Mathieu Chouteau
Summary: Warning signals and mimetic convergence in poison frogs show high variability and negative correlation. Variation in warning signals is continuous between populations in different localities. Coloration is consistently the least variable element and plays a greater role in predator avoidance compared to patterning.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Hugh D. D. Loxdale
Summary: Some colourful European wild birds display contrasting bright colours, which may serve as aposematic warning colouration to predators. These birds may have chemical noxious substances in their flesh and/or feathers, enhancing their warning signals. This warning colouration could be Mullerian or Batesian in nature or a ruse to deter predators.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wanhu Yang, Jixiang Cui, Yuxin Chen, Chao Wang, Yuanzhi Yin, Wei Zhang, Shanlin Liu, Cheng Sun, Hu Li, Yuange Duan, Fan Song, Wanzhi Cai, Heather M. Hines, Li Tian
Summary: Mullerian mimicry has been studied to explore the genetic mechanisms underlying adaptive phenotypic divergence and convergence. This study investigates the genetic basis of mimetic color pattern variation in a highly polymorphic bumble bee species. The results suggest that the color dimorphism is controlled by a single Mendelian locus located at the intergenic region between two Hox genes. Gene expression analysis suggests that a differential expression of an intergenic long noncoding RNA may drive the color variation late in development. The study also reveals that mimetic convergence is achieved through distinct genetic routes.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Krushnamegh Kunte, Athulya Girish Kizhakke, Viraj Nawge
Summary: Mimicry rings are communities of mimetic organisms influenced by factors such as regional and ecological filtering, density- and frequency-dependent selection, toxicity of prey, and age of mimicry rings. The size of mimicry rings is influenced by the degree of unpalatability and age, while the breadth of protection umbrella for an aposematic signal is positively related to the degree of unpalatability and availability of alternative prey.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND SYSTEMATICS, VOL 52, 2021
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Irina Birskis-Barros, Andre V. L. Freitas, Paulo R. Guimaraes
Summary: The coexistence of different mimicry rings in a community is influenced by selection pressures from habitat and mimicry, with habitat generalist species possibly preventing the formation of multiple mimicry rings.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Cheng-Hsiang Kuo, Ya-Fang Wu, Bi-Ing Chang, Chao-Kai Hsu, Chao-Han Lai, Hua-Lin Wu
Summary: CD248 expression in melanoma cells promotes malignant transformation by increasing the activity of cell adhesion, migration, and vascular mimicry, whereas rCD248 protein functions as a molecular decoy interfering with tumor-promoting effects of CD248 in melanoma cells.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Henri Mouy
Summary: The function of conspicuousness in butterflies is not well-studied and can vary between species. This study proposes that striking colorations in some butterflies might have evolved to improve visibility to conspecifics and increase the chances of being in a protected cluster. This mechanism also provides an alternative explanation for mimicry rings observed in Heliconius butterflies.
EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Oliver T. Heerwig, Sofia M. R. Jain-Schlaepfer, Thomas N. Sherratt, David W. Kikuchi
Summary: Undefended or weakly defended prey may evolve to mimic better-defended prey in a parasitic relationship called Batesian mimicry. Highly defended prey with lethal defenses may prevent predators from learning to avoid them, so they mimic the warning signals of less defended prey where avoidance learning is possible. The feasibility of this hypothesis was examined through modeling associative learning of predators foraging on weakly or highly defended prey.
EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kelsey J. R. P. Byers, Kathy Darragh, Sylvia Fernanda Garza, Diana Abondano Almeida, Ian A. Warren, Pasi M. A. Rastas, Richard M. Merrill, Stefan Schulz, W. Owen McMillan, Chris D. Jiggins
Summary: This study identified significant QTL for potential pheromone compounds production in Heliconius butterflies, clustered on chromosomes known for pheromone biosynthesis genes. The tight clustering of putative pheromone loci may contribute to coincident reproductive isolating barriers, facilitating speciation despite ongoing gene flow.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kathy Darragh, Anna Orteu, Daniella Black, Kelsey J. R. P. Byers, Daiane Szczerbowski, Ian A. Warren, Pasi Rastas, Ana Pinharanda, John W. Davey, Sylvia Fernanda Garza, Diana Abondano Almeida, Richard M. Merrill, W. Owen McMillan, Stefan Schulz, Chris D. Jiggins
Summary: This study investigated the recent divergence of two species, H. melpomene and Heliconius cydno, in terms of the presence of (E)-beta-ocimene. Through linkage mapping, gene expression, and functional analyses, two novel TPS enzymes were identified, demonstrating independent evolutionary origins of chemical convergence. The research showed that the loss of (E)-beta-ocimene in H. cydno was due to coding, not regulatory, differences.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriela Montejo-Kovacevich, Patricio A. Salazar, Sophie H. Smith, Kimberly Gavilanes, Caroline N. Bacquet, Yingguang Frank Chan, Chris D. Jiggins, Joana Meier, Nicola J. Nadeau
Summary: Understanding the genomic basis of wing shape in two Neotropical butterflies revealed that wing aspect ratio is highly heritable and differences in elevation-associated wing aspect ratio are maintained. Genome-wide associations uncovered a highly polygenic basis to wing aspect ratio variation in the wild, with promising candidate genes identified for future studies. Little evidence for molecular parallelism was found between the two species, suggesting polygenic adaptation may underlie ecologically relevant traits.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Henry L. North, Angela McGaughran, Chris D. Jiggins
Summary: The use of genomic data in invasion biology can provide valuable insights into processes such as invasion routes reconstruction and the importance of balancing selection and hybridization. While currently only a few invasive systems have utilized whole-genome resequencing, these studies have confirmed the significance of leveraging new technologies and approaches for a more comprehensive understanding of invasive species.
Article
Biology
Luca Livraghi, Joseph J. Hanly, Steven M. Van Bellghem, Gabriela Montejo-Kovacevich, Eva S. M. van Der Heijden, Ling Sheng Loh, Anna Ren, Ian A. Warren, James J. Lewis, Carolina Concha, Laura Hebberecht, Charlotte J. Wright, Jonah M. Walker, Jessica Foley, Zachary H. Goldberg, Henry Arenas-Castro, Camilo Salazar, Michael W. Perry, Riccardo Papa, Arnaud Martin, W. Owen McMillan, Chris D. Jiggins
Summary: In Heliconius butterflies, wing color pattern diversity and scale types are controlled by a few genes of large effect, which regulate color pattern switches between morphs and species. The gene cortex is identified as a major determinant of scale cell identity through CRISPR knockouts in multiple Heliconius species. Chromatin accessibility profiling and introgression scans reveal cis-regulatory regions associated with discrete phenotypic switches.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Joseph J. Hanly, Luca Livraghi, Christa Heryanto, W. Owen McMillan, Chris D. Jiggins, Lawrence E. Gilbert, Arnaud Martin
Summary: By studying the ivory mutant in Heliconius butterflies, we identified a genetic deletion associated with the unusual pattern variant. This mutation originated from a mixed population and provides heterozygous advantage under artificial selection.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Daiane Szczerbowski, Stephanie Ehlers, Kathy Darragh, Chris Jiggins, Stefan Schulz
Summary: A study on the neotropical butterfly species Heliconius erato found that males release a complex mixture of compounds during mating, making females unattractive to other males. Another set of compounds released from the wings of male butterflies may serve as aphrodisiacs. The structures of these compounds have been identified.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Charlotte J. Wright, Christopher W. J. Smith, Chris D. Jiggins
Summary: This article discusses how alternative splicing generates phenotypic diversity and contributes to adaptation and species divergence. Comparisons of splicing profiles between closely related species using new technologies have helped in understanding the evolution of alternative splicing.
NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Bruna Cama, Stephanie Ehlers, Daiane Szczerbowski, Jane Thomas-Oates, Chris D. Jiggins, Stefan Schulz, W. Owen McMillan, Kanchon K. Dasmahapatra
Summary: This study investigates the androconial secretions of male butterflies in the Heliconiini tribe and finds that these secretions are species-specific and may contribute to reproductive isolation. The study also shows that the diversification of these secretions is associated with the utilization of different metabolic pathways in different species. Furthermore, a positive correlation is observed between the dissimilarity of secretions and the overlap of distribution ranges in related species, suggesting the occurrence of character displacement or reinforcement. These results highlight the importance of MSP diversification in speciation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Anniina L. K. Mattila, Chris D. Jiggins, Marjo Saastamoinen
Summary: Aposematic animals use bright warning coloration to indicate their toxicity or unpalatability. This study found associations between life-history traits and chemical defenses, suggesting that toxicity levels may be influenced by individual condition and age, as well as genetic background and early conditions. Additionally, individuals with higher toxicity developed faster, had higher mass as adults, and showed a tendency for increased lifespan and fecundity.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Tarryn Schuldiner-Harpaz, Richard M. Merrill, Chris D. Jiggins
Summary: Coupling of multiple barriers to gene-flow facilitates speciation. Physical linkage is a mechanism that can establish and maintain associations between divergent alleles. Our model reveals that stronger physical linkage is more likely to evolve under weaker mating preferences and selection.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Alexander E. E. Hausmann, Marilia Freire, Sara A. A. Alfthan, Chi-Yun Kuo, Mauricio Linares, Owen McMillan, Carolina Pardo-Diaz, Camilo Salazar, Richard M. Merrill
Summary: Why warning patterns are so diverse in Heliconius butterflies remains a puzzle. This study suggests that interlocus sexual conflict may contribute to their diversification, as male Heliconius use warning patterns as mating cues. Simulations show that sexual conflict can assist pattern diversification, but drift alone is unlikely to cause it. Furthermore, genetic architecture influences the evolution of male preferences for warning patterns.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jose Borrero, Daniel Shane Wright, Caroline Nicole Bacquet, Richard M. M. Merrill
Summary: Animal vision is crucial for various complex behaviors, such as oviposition, foraging, and mate choice. Heliconius butterflies possess photoreceptors that are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV), blue, and long-wavelength light, and the expression of UV opsin varies widely among different species. In Heliconius erato, the expression of UV opsin is sexually dimorphic, but the reasons behind this difference and its impact on visual perception are still unknown. This study showed that UV vision is not essential for oviposition in female Heliconius butterflies, suggesting that UV wavelengths may play a role in other behaviors such as foraging or mate choice.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Erika C. P. de Castro, Jamie Musgrove, Soren Bak, W. Owen McMillan, Chris D. Jiggins
Summary: The Heliconius butterflies exhibit remarkable plasticity in their chemical defences, adjusting biosynthesis based on the cyanogenic compounds present in their host plants. This allows them to widen their range of potential hosts within the Passiflora genus while maintaining their chemical defences.
