Structural color in <i>Junonia</i> butterflies evolves by tuning scale lamina thickness

Thayer, Rachel C.; Allen, Frances; Patel, Nipam H.

doi:10.1101/584532

Cited by 12 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 37 publications

(74 reference statements)

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“…A genomic approach will also allow us to study the genetic basis of colour. The coloration of P. auratus is considered a polygenic quantitative trait (Akamine et al., 2008) and may be controlled by multiple loci (Brien et al., 2018; Thayer et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genetic structure underlying the geographic variation in beetle structural colour with multiple transition zones

Araki

Sota

2020

Molecular Ecology

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We studied the population genetic structure underlying the geographic variation in the structural colour of the geotrupid dung beetle, Phelotrupes auratus, which exhibits metallic body colours of different reflectance wavelengths perceived as red, green and indigo. These forms occur parapatrically in an area of Japan. The colour variation was not related to variation in climatic factors. Using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from restriction‐site‐associated DNA sequences, we discriminated five groups of populations (west/red, south/green, south/indigo, south/red and east/red) by a combination of genetic clusters (west, south and east) and three colour forms. There were three transition zones for the colour forms: two between the red and green forms were hybrid zones with steep genetic clines, which implies the existence of barriers to gene flow between regions with different colours. The remaining transition zone between the green and indigo forms lacked genetic differentiation, despite the evident colour changes, which implies regionally specific selection on the different colours. In a genomewide association study, we identified four SNPs that were associated with the red/green or indigo colour and were not linked with one another, which implies that the coloration was controlled by multiple loci, each affecting the expression of a different colour range. These loci may have controlled the transitions between different combinations of colours. Our study demonstrates that geographic colour variation within a species can be maintained by nonuniform interactions among barriers to gene flow, locally specific selection on different colours, and the effects of different colour loci.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genetic structure underlying the geographic variation in beetle structural colour with multiple transition zones

Araki

Sota

2020

Molecular Ecology

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“…Adult scales are chitin-covered projections that serve as the unit of color for the wing. Each scale can generate color through pigmentation via molecules that selectively absorb certain wavelengths of light, structural coloration, which results from light interacting with the physical nanoarchitecture of the scale, or a combination of both pigmentary and structural coloration (4,5). Cytoskeletal dynamics, including highly organized F-actin filaments during scale cell development, play essential roles in wing scale elongation and prefigure aspects of scale ultrastructure (6,7).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental, cellular, and biochemical basis of transparency in the glasswing butterflyGreta oto

Pomerantz

Siddique

Cash

et al. 2020

Preprint

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AbstractNumerous species of Lepidoptera have transparent wings, which often possess scales of altered morphology and reduced size, and the presence of membrane surface nanostructures that dramatically reduce reflection. Optical properties and anti-reflective nanostructures have been characterized for several ‘clearwing’ Lepidoptera, but the developmental basis of wing transparency is unknown. We apply confocal and electron microscopy to create a developmental time-series in the glasswing butterfly, Greta oto, comparing transparent and non-transparent wing regions. We find that scale precursor cell density is reduced in transparent regions, and cytoskeletal organization differs between flat scales in opaque regions, and thin, bristle-like scales in transparent regions. We also reveal that sub-wavelength nanopillars on the wing membrane are wax-based, derive from wing epithelial cells and their associated microvillar projections, and demonstrate their role in enhancing-anti-reflective properties. These findings provide insight into morphogenesis of naturally organized micro- and nanostructures and may provide bioinspiration for new anti-reflective materials.

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“…Wing patterns are made of hundreds of thousands of scales that derive their color from pigments, ultrastructure, or a combination of the two . Scale structures interact with light through a variety of mechanisms that have been described from a biophysical perspective, including light‐trapping black, light polarization, high‐reflectance, transparency, and color‐selective iridescence . For instance, the coherent light‐scattering features of Morpho butterflies reflect specific wavelengths, producing their characteristic blue iridescence .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…F, Schematic view of a scale cross‐section, with the upper surface showing ridges, crossribs, and ectopic lamina are represented. The lower surface of V. cardui wings shows a monolayered basal lamina not represented here . Scale bars = 1 cm in A; 1 mm in B,C; 10 μm in D; 5 μm in E…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sub‐micrometer insights into the cytoskeletal dynamics and ultrastructural diversity of butterfly wing scales

Day

Hanly

Ren

et al. 2019

Developmental Dynamics

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Background The color patterns that adorn lepidopteran wings are ideal for studying cell type diversity using a phenomics approach. Color patterns are made of chitinous scales that are each the product of a single precursor cell, offering a 2D system where phenotypic diversity can be studied cell by cell, both within and between species. Those scales reveal complex ultrastructures in the sub‐micrometer range that are often connected to a photonic function, including iridescent blues and greens, highly reflective whites, or light‐trapping blacks. Results We found that during scale development, Fascin immunostainings reveal punctate distributions consistent with a role in the control of actin patterning. We quantified the cytoskeleton regularity as well as its relationship to chitin deposition sites, and confirmed a role in the patterning of the ultrastructures of the adults scales. Then, in an attempt to characterize the range and variation in lepidopteran scale ultrastructures, we devised a high‐throughput method to quickly derive multiple morphological measurements from fluorescence images and scanning electron micrographs. We imaged a multicolor eyespot element from the butterfly Vanessa cardui (V. cardui), taking approximately 200 000 individual measurements from 1161 scales. Principal component analyses revealed that scale structural features cluster by color type, and detected the divergence of non‐reflective scales characterized by tighter cross‐rib distances and increased orderedness. Conclusion We developed descriptive methods that advance the potential of butterfly wing scales as a model system for studying how a single cell type can differentiate into a multifaceted spectrum of complex morphologies. Our data suggest that specific color scales undergo a tight regulation of their ultrastructures, and that this involves cytoskeletal dynamics during scale growth.

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Structural color in Junonia butterflies evolves by tuning scale lamina thickness

Cited by 12 publications

References 37 publications

Population genetic structure underlying the geographic variation in beetle structural colour with multiple transition zones

Population genetic structure underlying the geographic variation in beetle structural colour with multiple transition zones

Developmental, cellular, and biochemical basis of transparency in the glasswing butterflyGreta oto

Sub‐micrometer insights into the cytoskeletal dynamics and ultrastructural diversity of butterfly wing scales

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