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)
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
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
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adam M. M. Stuckert, Mathieu Chouteau, Melanie McClure, Troy M. LaPolice, Tyler Linderoth, Rasmus Nielsen, Kyle Summers, Matthew D. MacManes
Summary: Investigating the genetic mechanisms of colour and pattern production in a Mullerian mimicry complex of poison frogs revealed differential expression of pigmentation and patterning genes related to melanocyte development, melanin synthesis, iridophore development, and guanine synthesis. The pteridine synthesis pathway is identified as a key driver of colour variation between morphs of these species, while genes in the keratin family are hypothesized to be important for producing different structural colours within these frogs.
Article
Ecology
Ananda R. Pereira Martins, Lucas P. Martins, Wing-Zheng Ho, William Owen McMillan, Jonathan S. Ready, Rowan Barrett
Summary: This study investigates the association between distinct phenotypes and different environmental conditions in the red-yellow Mullerian mimicry ring of Heliconius butterflies. The results show that the phenotypic distribution is strongly driven by environmental gradients, with thermal and precipitation variables playing a significant role. However, the associations between phenotype and environment vary at different spatial scales, suggesting the importance of both large-scale analyses and local studies.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Charline Sophie Pinna, Maelle Vilbert, Stephan Borensztajn, Willy Daney de Marcillac, Florence Piron-Prunier, Aaron Pomerantz, Nipam H. Patel, Serge Berthier, Christine Andraud, Doris Gomez, Marianne Elias
Summary: Mullerian mimicry is a positive interspecific interaction where co-occurring defended prey species share a common aposematic signal. Transparency, as perceived by predators, is convergent among co-mimics in some mimicry rings, despite sometimes varied micro- and nanostructures. Nanostructures largely influence light transmission, potentially enabling additional fine-tuning in transmission properties.
Review
Entomology
Stano Pekar, Gunther Raspotnig
Summary: Arachnida, a diverse group of terrestrial arthropods, are not only predators but also often fall prey to other predators. This review discusses the variety of enemies and defenses used by arachnids against their predators, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
ENTOMOLOGIA GENERALIS
(2022)
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
Ecology
James B. Barnett, Justin Yeager, Brendan L. McEwen, Isaac Kinley, Hannah M. Anderson, Jennifer Guevara
Summary: Colour plays an important role in various defensive strategies, and its effectiveness and detectability can be influenced by the size of the structures and how they interact with the background. In this study, researchers investigated size-dependent differences in colour in the gold-striped frog and found that smaller individuals had more detectable colours, while larger frogs exhibited better camouflage. The results suggest a change in defensive strategy from conspicuous signalling to camouflage with increasing size.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ombeline Sculfort, Ludovic Maisonneuve, Marianne Elias, Thomas G. Aubier, Violaine Llaurens
Summary: Variation in the conspicuousness of colour patterns within and among defended prey species can have significant impacts on their survival. The evolution of conspicuous colour patterns can be limited due to the increased detectability by predators, but may be favored if it results in mimicry with other defended prey. This study develops a model to describe the population dynamics of a conspicuous defended prey species and assesses the conditions under which derived phenotypes with different levels of conspicuousness can invade the population. The research findings suggest that less conspicuous colour patterns are generally favored within mimicry rings, but a more conspicuous pattern may be favored if it leads to a better protected mimicry ring.
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
Zoology
Marta Skowron Volponi, Luca Pietro Casacci, Paolo Volponi, Francesca Barbero
Summary: The study found that the buzzing sounds of Southeast Asian clearwing moths closely resemble those of Tetragonilla collina bees, but differ from two control species of bees. This suggests that clearwing moths exhibit multimodal mimicry of their evolutionary models in terms of morphology, behavior, and sound.
FRONTIERS IN ZOOLOGY
(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
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)
Article
Zoology
Adam M. M. Stuckert, Ralph A. Saporito, Kyle Summers
JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Fisheries
Adam M. M. Stuckert, Sara Drury, Christopher M. Anderson, Tyler B. T. Bowling, Jeffrey S. Mckinnon
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Adam M. M. Stuckert, Emily Moore, Kaitlin P. Coyle, Ian Davison, Matthew D. MacManes, Reade Roberts, Kyle Summers
BMC EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Zoology
Pablo J. Venegas, Lourdes Y. Echevarria, Luis A. Garcia-Ayachi, Caroll Z. Landauro
Review
Evolutionary Biology
Paulo R. Melo-Sampaio, Paulo Passos, Ana L. C. Prudente, Pablo J. Venegas, Omar Torres-Carvajal
Summary: This study re-examines the Atractus snethlageae species complex by examining 330 specimens and redefining A. snethlageae with the recognition of four new species. It is found that some Amazonian lowland species have restricted ranges, with the eastern portion of Para and western portion of Maranhao in Brazil being biogeographically important and threatened. Discussions on expected changes in taxonomy of ground snakes are also presented based on well-sampled phylogenies.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Molly A. Albecker, Adam M. M. Stuckert, Christopher N. Balakrishnan, Michael W. McCoy
Summary: This study explores the salt tolerance mechanisms in coastal populations of the green treefrog. The findings suggest that differences in gene expression, survival, and plasma osmolality are mainly associated with genotype, with coastal populations exhibiting unique gene expressions related to osmoregulation and cellular adhesion. In addition, coastal populations highly express glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (gpd1), indicating a novel mechanism of using glycerol as a compatible osmolyte to reduce water loss in frogs facing saltwater exposure.
Article
Zoology
Pablo J. Venegas, Luis A. Garcia-Ayachi, Lourdes Y. Echevarria, Daniel J. Paluh, Juan C. Chavez-Arribasplata, Axel Marchelie, Alessandro Catenazzi
Summary: A new species of marsupial frog from genus Gastrotheca was described using morphological and molecular data, found in northeastern Peru. This species is distinguished by specific characteristics and was found to belong to a particular species group within the genus. Additionally, the study included osteological description and testing for fungal pathogen infection among the frogs in the same habitat.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adam M. M. Stuckert, Mathieu Chouteau, Melanie McClure, Troy M. LaPolice, Tyler Linderoth, Rasmus Nielsen, Kyle Summers, Matthew D. MacManes
Summary: Investigating the genetic mechanisms of colour and pattern production in a Mullerian mimicry complex of poison frogs revealed differential expression of pigmentation and patterning genes related to melanocyte development, melanin synthesis, iridophore development, and guanine synthesis. The pteridine synthesis pathway is identified as a key driver of colour variation between morphs of these species, while genes in the keratin family are hypothesized to be important for producing different structural colours within these frogs.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Jo A. Werba, Adam M. M. Stuckert, Matthew Edwards, Michael W. McCoy
Summary: The dear enemy hypothesis has been well studied and proven to be common, but a quantitative synthesis is needed to test its generality and identify key mechanisms. This study found that dear enemy behavior is correlated with taxonomic class and breeding status, and the way aggression is measured influences the likelihood of identifying dear enemy responses.
BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adam M. M. Stuckert, Daniel R. Matute
Summary: Wolbachia, a globally distributed endosymbiotic bacteria, can be found in numerous species of arthropods and nematodes. The frequency of one strain, wMel, varies significantly worldwide. Hague et al. have discovered that the variation of wMel in nature can be explained by the interaction of host genotype, symbiont genotype, and environment.
Article
Zoology
Pablo J. Venegas, Luis A. Garcia-Ayachi, Juan C. Chavez-Arribasplata, Antonio Garcia-Bravo
Summary: The tropical Andes Mountains have high levels of species endemism and spatial turnover. Four new species of Stenocercus are described, each with their unique characteristics. These species have granular scales on the posterior surface of the thighs, relatively short tails, and the ability to change coloration.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Antonio Garcia-Bravo, Betty K. Guzman, Jani E. Mendoza, Cristobal Torres Guzman, Manuel Oliva, Elgar Barboza, Jhon Quinones Ramirez, J. Luis Zabarburu-Veneros, Pablo J. Venegas
Summary: This study reported a disjunct population of Dicrodon guttulatum Dumeril & Bibron, 1839 in the inter-Andean Seasonally Dry Forests of the Maranon River in northwestern Peru. The main threat to D. guttulatum in this region was identified as widespread cultivation of rice crops.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Paola A. Carrasco, Claudia Koch, Felipe G. Grazziotin, Pablo J. Venegas, Juan C. Chaparro, Gustavo J. Scrocchi, David Salazar-Valenzuela, Gerardo C. Leynaud, Camilo Mattoni
Summary: This study presents a total-evidence phylogeny of New World pitvipers, incorporating both morphological and molecular data. The results reveal a single colonization event of the Americas by pitvipers, leading to the divergence of a Neotropical clade and a North American/Neotropical clade. Morphological character analyses highlight the significance of features related to head scalation, the jaws, and the dorsum of the skull in phylogenetic inference, and detect morphological convergences associated with arboreality.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pablo Javier Venegas, Luis Alberto Garcia-Ayachi, Jesus Ormeno, Santiago Bullard, Alessandro Catenazzi, Ana Paula Motta
Summary: This study presents two new species of terrestrial-breeding frogs from the Cordillera de Colan in northeastern Peru, classified as Lynchius and Oreobates. The new species of Lynchius can be found in two localities at elevations of 1,977 to 2,006 m a.s.l., while the new species of Oreobates is only known from one location at 2608 m a.s.l., each with distinct physical characteristics and habitat preferences.
NEOTROPICAL BIODIVERSITY
(2021)
Review
Biology
Emmanuelle S. Briolat, Emily R. Burdfield-Steel, Sarah C. Paul, Katja H. Ronka, Brett M. Seymoure, Theodore Stankowich, Adam M. M. Stuckert
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2019)