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Related Experiment Videos

Concerted evolution and developmental integration in modular butterfly wing patterns.

Patrícia Beldade1, Paul M Brakefield

  • 1Leiden University, Institute of Evolutionary and Ecological Sciences, P.O. Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. pbeldade@uci.edu

Evolution & Development
|March 8, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Butterfly eyespot patterns evolve in a coordinated manner, but specific wing spots can change independently. This study reveals how selection on certain eyespots influences the entire pattern, offering insights into evolutionary diversification.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary developmental biology
  • Animal morphology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Developing organisms often exhibit modularity, allowing independent evolution of traits within different modules.
  • Butterfly eyespot patterns, specifically in *Bicyclus anynana*, serve as a model for studying morphological modularity and genetic integration.
  • Previous research indicates strong genetic integration across all eyespots in *B. anynana*, suggesting the entire pattern acts as a single character.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic integration and modularity of the eyespot pattern in *Bicyclus anynana* butterflies.
  • To analyze correlated responses in the entire eyespot pattern when specific eyespots are subjected to directional selection.
  • To understand the potential for independent evolutionary changes within the eyespot pattern.

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Main Methods:

  • Utilizing laboratory lines of *Bicyclus anynana* selected for altered size in specific eyespots.
  • Observing and quantifying changes in eyespot size, number, color composition, and position across all wing surfaces.
  • Analyzing the correlated responses in the overall eyespot pattern in response to targeted selection.

Main Results:

  • Selection for eyespot size resulted in changes across all wing surfaces, with variations dependent on the anterior-posterior axis position.
  • Independent changes were observed in the number of extra eyespots and their color composition.
  • No significant changes were detected in the relative position of eyespots to the wing margin, indicating some constraints on modularity.

Conclusions:

  • Despite overall genetic integration, specific eyespots exhibit potential for independent evolutionary modification.
  • Eyespot pattern evolution is influenced by selection acting on individual components, leading to predictable but complex changes across the wing.
  • The findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms underlying evolutionary diversification of complex traits like butterfly wing patterns.