The genetics and evo–devo of butterfly wing patterns

Beldade, Patrícia; Brakefield, Paul M.

doi:10.1038/nrg818

Cited by 300 publications

(235 citation statements)

References 86 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

230

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus, some of the 5-10 polymorphic genes estimated to underlie the divergence of the HIGH-and LOW-lines probably play a role in hormone physiology (Wijngaarden and Brakefi eld 2000). These hormones are in turn involved in regulating the developmental machinery of eyespot formation that includes genes of the Hedgehog signaling pathway and the production of morphogen signals by eyespot organizers in the pupal wings Beldade and Brakefi eld 2002). Thus the physiological mechanisms provide a bridge between the sensing of the environment in late larvae and the developmental pathway of wing pattern formation in early pupae.…”

Section: The Role Of Genes and Hormones In Wing Patterningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental plasticity and acclimation both contribute to adaptive responses to alternating seasons of plenty and of stress in Bicyclus butterflies

2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plasticity is a crucial component of the life cycle of invertebrates that live as active adults throughout wet and dry seasons in the tropics. Such plasticity is seen in the numerous species of Bicyclus butterfl ies in Africa which exhibit seasonal polyphenism with sequential generations of adults with one or other of two alternative phenotypes. These differ not only in wing pattern but in many other traits. This divergence across a broad complex of traits is associated with survival and reproduction either in a wet season that is favourable in terms of resources, or mainly in a dry season that is more stressful. This phenomenon has led us to examine the bases of the developmental plasticity in a model species, B. anynana, and also the evolution of key adult life history traits, including starvation resistance and longevity. We now understand something about the processes that generate variation in the phenotype, and also about the ecological context of responses to environmental stress. The responses clearly involve a mix of developmental plasticity as cued by different environments in pre-adult development, and the acclimation of life history traits in adults to their prevailing environment.

show abstract

Section: The Role Of Genes and Hormones In Wing Patterningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental plasticity and acclimation both contribute to adaptive responses to alternating seasons of plenty and of stress in Bicyclus butterflies

2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, it is possible that a small basis-set of patterns can generate cryptic camouflage for a wide range of backgrounds (Julesz 1984). Coloration patterns are typically under genetic control and, at least in the wings of butterflies and moths, a small number of developmental mechanisms underlie much diversity (Beldade & Brakefield 2002). An animal lineage with a suitable 'basis-set' of genetically defined patterns would perhaps be able to evolve camouflage for a range of natural backgrounds.…”

Section: Principles Of Camouflagementioning

confidence: 99%

Camouflage and Perceptual Organization in the Animal Kingdom

Osorio

Cuthill²

2014

Oxford Handbooks Online

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Full terms of use are available: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pure/about/ebr-terms AbstractCamouflage allows the bearer to 'hide in plain sight' by means of colour patterns that interfere with detection. Basic principles of camouflage that were proposed over a century ago by artists and natural historians have informed recent studies that seek to tease apart the different mechanisms by which camouflage exploits perception. The probability of detection is lowered by matching background colours and textures or using sharply contrasting colours to disrupt the body's outline or salient features such as eyes. The effectiveness of much animal camouflage against humans, even though the patterns evolved to fool different viewers, suggests that diverse visual systems share similar principles of perceptual organization. As such, animal camouflage might reveal universal principles that apply regardless of retinal organisation and neural architecture. We review the recent literature on animal camouflage in this light, from experimental studies of texture perception by fish and cephalopod molluscs, to the visual effects used to defeat figure ground segregation of 2-D and 3-D objects in birds and mammals.

show abstract

“…Much research has been done on the development, genetics, and evolution of nymphalid wing pattern elements, particularly the border oceli. Nonetheless, the most in-depth studies have focused on Bicyclus anynana, Junonia coenia, and some Heliconius (for reviews, see Monteiro et al 1997, Beldade & Brakefield 2002, Monteiro 2008, Beldade et al 2008, and the general relevance of such work relies on the evolutionary homology of wing pattern elements across taxa. Although the long early stage development time of brassolines is a limitation for laboratory research (e.g., 70 days for Caligo illioneus; Penz et al 1999), some of these butterflies are locally abundant (DeVries et al 2011) and easily maintained in enclosures (CMP pers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wing pattern diversity in Brassolini butterflies (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

Penz

Mohammadi

2013

Biota Neotrop.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study describes and compares the diverse dorsal and ventral wing color patterns of Brassolini butterflies. Thirty-three species are illustrated, where pattern elements of the nymphalid ground plan are labeled in color. In general, a larger number of pattern elements can be identified on the ventral than on the dorsal surface of both wings, and the forewing has a larger number of discernible pattern elements than the hind wing. The dorsal elements are broad, diffuse, and more difficult to identify against the typically brown brassoline wing background color. Species with a light colored dorsal background served as a guide for our proposal that fewer pattern elements are present dorsally, particularly on the hind wing. Colorful bands or markings generally present on the dorsal surface seem to be associated with specific pattern elements and have correspondence to the ventral pattern. We refer to these as trailing bands, and they constitute a predominant feature of the brassoline dorsal coloration. We propose a subordinate groundplan for brassolines and interpret some of the ventral pattern variation in light of their phylogeny. Dorsal color pattern variation that leads to sexual dimorphism and mimetic resemblance are also discussed. Resumo: Este estudo descreve e compara os diversos padrões de coloração dorsal e ventral das borboletas da tribo Brassolini. Com o objetivo de demarcar os elementos do padrão de base dos ninfalídeos ('pattern elements of the nymphalid ground plan'), 33 espécies são ilustradas. De maneira geral, o número de elementos-padrão identificados na face ventral é maior do que o da face dorsal em ambas as asas, e a asa anterior contém um número maior de elementos visíveis do que a posterior. Os elementos da face dorsal são mais largos e difusos, e também mais difíceis de identificar devido à usual coloração de fundo marrom escuro dos brassolíneos. Espécies que apresentam coloração de fundo clara serviram como guia para a nossa interpretação de que a superfície dorsal das asas apresenta um número reduzido de elementos-padrão, especialmente a da asa posterior. Faixas ou manchas coloridas que geralmente aparecem na superfície dorsal estão aparentemente associadas com elementos-padrão específicos, e apresentam correspondência com faixas que aparecem na face ventral. Estas faixas ('trailing bands') se alastram a partir da borda de certos elementos e constituem uma característica predominante da coloração dorsal dos brassolíneos. Nós propomos um padrão de base para os brassolíneos que é subordinado ao dos ninfalídeos, e utilizamos a filogenia do grupo para interpretar alguns aspectos da variação de elementos-padrão da superfície ventral. As variações de padrão e cor que resultam em dimorfismo sexual e mimetismo são discutidas. Palavras-chave: borboleta, coloração das asas, padrão de base dos ninfalídeos, manchas ocelares, ocelo, Caligo. This study represents the first broad survey of color pattern diversity in Brassolini. Here we provide a framework for understanding color pattern varia...

show abstract

The genetics and evo–devo of butterfly wing patterns

Cited by 300 publications

References 86 publications

Developmental plasticity and acclimation both contribute to adaptive responses to alternating seasons of plenty and of stress in Bicyclus butterflies

Developmental plasticity and acclimation both contribute to adaptive responses to alternating seasons of plenty and of stress in Bicyclus butterflies

Camouflage and Perceptual Organization in the Animal Kingdom

Wing pattern diversity in Brassolini butterflies (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About