Biased predation could promote convergence yet maintain diversity within Müllerian mimicry rings of <i>Oreina</i> leaf beetles

Kikuchi, David W.; Waldron, Samuel J.; Valkonen, Janne K.; Dobler, Susanne; Mappes, Johanna

doi:10.1111/jeb.13620

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Models exploring the foraging behaviour of predators nevertheless suggest that their discrimination capacities depend on a more complex interplay between the profitability and colour pattern variation found in prey communities (Getty 1985). Several cognitive biases in predators, not modelled in our study, might also favour the invasion of more conspicuous warning colour patterns in defended species: biased predation (Kikuchi et al 2020), innate memorability, direct deterrence, diet conservatism (Marples et al 2005) or neophobia (Marples andKelly 1999, Aubier andSherratt 2015) have indeed been shown to promote the emergence of new warning patterns. Our study thus calls for attention to the effect of ecological interactions with other defended species, edible alternative prey, and of the diversity of colour pattern in sympatric species on the evolution of aposematism in defended species.…”

Section: Evolution Of More Conspicuous Colour Patterns Can Be Promote...mentioning

confidence: 69%

“…We assume that variation in the level of conspicuousness between the ancestral and derived phenotypes can modify the level of similarity perceived by predators, thereby modulating predator generalization (Kikuchi andPfennig 2013, Motyka et al 2020). Mutations can thus generate derived colour patterns that are perceived as slightly different from the ancestral phenotype by the predators (i.e.…”

Section: Imperfect Mimicrymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Uncovering the effects of Müllerian mimicry on the evolution of conspicuousness in colour patterns

Sculfort

Maisonneuve

Élias

et al. 2022

Oikos

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Variation in the conspicuousness of colour patterns is observed within and among defended prey species. The evolution of conspicuous colour pattern in defended species can be strongly impaired because of increased detectability by predators. Nevertheless, such evolution of the colour pattern can be favoured if changes in conspicuousness result in Müllerian mimicry with other defended prey. Here, we develop a model describing the population dynamics of a conspicuous defended prey species, and we assess the invasion conditions of derived phenotypes that differ from the ancestral phenotype by their conspicuousness. Such change in conspicuousness may then modify their level of mimicry with the local community of defended species. Derived colour pattern displayed in this focal population can therefore be either exactly similar, partially resembling or completely dissimilar to the local mimicry ring displaying the ancestral colour pattern. We assume that predation risk depends 1) on the number of individuals sharing a given colour pattern within the population, 2) on the occurrence of co-mimetic defended species and 3) on the availability of alternative edible prey. Using a combination of analytical derivations and numerical simulations, we show that colour patterns that are less conspicuous than the ancestral one are generally favoured within mimicry rings, unless reduced conspicuousness impairs mimicry. By contrast, when a mutation affecting the colour pattern leads to a shift toward a better protected mimicry ring, a more conspicuous colour pattern can be favoured. The selected aposematic pattern then depends on the local communities of defended and edible prey, as well as on the detectability, memorability and level of mimicry of the colour patterns.

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Section: Evolution Of More Conspicuous Colour Patterns Can Be Promote...mentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Imperfect Mimicrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering the effects of Müllerian mimicry on the evolution of conspicuousness in colour patterns

Sculfort

Maisonneuve

Élias

et al. 2022

Oikos

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…However, additional reasons may explain the observed pattern, and the biological significance of elytra colouration as revealed in other species of beetles should be considered [8][9][10][11]. Intraspecific variability of the elytra colour in beetles can be associated with (i) the trophic pressure of predators (for example, birds or mammals may be more likely to prey upon some colour morphs) [12], (ii) the better reflective ability of white colouration in hot climates (prevention of excessive body heating in individuals with larger body sizes and, accordingly, slower heat transfer to the surrounding space) [13] and the better wettability [14], (iii) different humidity levels at the local population scale [15,16], (iv) the domination of different colour morphs of beetles in different types of plant communities or landscapes [17], (v) a different set of food for the larvae, as a result of which different digestive enzymes are expressed, some of which can be linked to the genes for wing colouring [17], or (vi) direct mechanical collection of beetles with white elytra (as we pointed out at above). The anthropogenic impact on beetles can be both direct (mechanical extermination of a given morphological form) and indirect (for example, through changes in the fauna of parasites of larvae, pupae, or adults, destruction of any food plants, pollution of the environment by insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, heavy metals, or persistent organic pollutants) [9,11].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decline of the Commercially Attractive White Morph in Goliath Beetle Polymorphic Populations

et al. 2021

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The Goliath beetle (Goliathus goliatus) is one of the largest and most commercially valuable (for collection exports) beetle species worldwide, and occurs in West and Central Africa, with polymorphic populations being found in Benin, Eastern Nigeria, and Western Cameroun. The white morph is the most commercially valuable, and therefore is actively searched for by hunters and dealers. In a long-term, opportunistically conducted study in south-eastern Nigeria, we documented a substantial decline of the white morph compared to the normally coloured brown morph, although an overall decline in the number of observed beetles was evident for both colour morphs. Although a combination of reasons may have caused the white form decline, it is likely that overcollecting was the primary threat behind the observed pattern. Therefore, we urge the competent authorities to better protect the polymorphic populations of these giant beetles and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to make a quick assessment for eventual inclusion of the species among the threatened taxa Red List.

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“…The species of this largely Alpine, Palearctic genus [ 14 ] are colorful and chemically defended [ 8 ]. Within the Alps, at least six species of Oreina display a basal color of either blue or green and they may coexist in patchily distributed locations [ 12 , 15 , 16 ]. Laboratory assays of predatory behavior suggested that bird predators learned to associate color with chemical defenses, and that learned avoidance of the green morph of one species protected green morphs of another species, configuring a classic case of müllerian mimicry [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Color polymorphism and mating trends in a population of the alpine leaf beetle Oreina gloriosa

Roggero,

Alù,

Laini

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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The bright colors of Alpine leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) are thought to act as aposematic signals against predation. Within the European Alps, at least six species display a basal color of either blue or green, likely configuring a classic case of müllerian mimicry. In this context, intra-population color polymorphism is paradoxical as the existence of numerous color morphs might hamper the establishment of a search image in visual predators. Assortative mating may be one of the main factors contributing to the maintenance of polymorphic populations. Due to the marked iridescence of these leaf beetles, the perceived color may change as the viewing or illumination angle changes. The present study, conducted over three years, involved intensive sampling of a population of Oreina gloriosa from the Italian Alps and applied colorimetry and a decision tree method to identify the color morphs in an objective manner. The tertiary sex ratio of the population was biased in favor of males, suggesting that viviparous females hide to give birth. Seven color morphs were identified, and their frequencies varied significantly over the course of the study. Three different analyses of mating (JMating, QInfomating, and Montecarlo simulations) recognized a general trend for random mating which coexists with some instances of positive and negative assortative mating. This could help explain the pre-eminence of one morph (which would be favored because of positive selection due to positive assortative mating) in parallel with the persistence of six other morphs (maintained due to negative assortative mating).

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Biased predation could promote convergence yet maintain diversity within Müllerian mimicry rings of Oreina leaf beetles

Abstract: Aposematic signals that warn predators about prey defences have long occupied biologists' attention as a prime example of adaptation

Cited by 8 publications

References 82 publications

Uncovering the effects of Müllerian mimicry on the evolution of conspicuousness in colour patterns

Uncovering the effects of Müllerian mimicry on the evolution of conspicuousness in colour patterns

Decline of the Commercially Attractive White Morph in Goliath Beetle Polymorphic Populations

Color polymorphism and mating trends in a population of the alpine leaf beetle Oreina gloriosa

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