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Color-pattern evolution in response to environmental stress in butterflies
Atsuki Hiyama1, Wataru Taira, Joji M Otaki
1The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus Okinawa, Japan.
Frontiers in Genetics
|February 25, 2012
Summary
Butterfly wing color-patterns can arise from environmental stress, not just natural selection. Phenotypic plasticity may lead to genetically assimilated, non-functional traits, influencing butterfly evolution.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Ecology
Background:
- Butterfly wing color-patterns are typically viewed as functional traits shaped by natural selection.
- Environmental stress can induce physiological changes in wing color-patterns, potentially lacking adaptive function.
- These stress-induced patterns represent extreme phenotypic plasticity and may become genetically fixed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cases where butterfly wing color-patterns arise from environmental stress.
- To discuss the mechanisms of genetic assimilation for these non-functional traits.
- To highlight the role of phenotypic plasticity in butterfly wing color evolution.
Main Methods:
- Review of three case studies in butterflies (Vanessa indica, Vanessa cardui, Zizeeria maha).
- Analysis of experimental induction of color-pattern modifications via temperature and general stress.
- Examination of field observations and experimental support for stress-induced pattern diversity.
Main Results:
- Temperature stress induced modified color-patterns in Vanessa indica, resembling related species.
- General stress response in Vanessa cardui produced patterns similar to its sister species, Vanessa kershawi.
- Increased color-pattern diversity in Zizeeria maha populations at range margins was linked to temperature stress.
Conclusions:
- Phenotypic plasticity plays a significant role in the evolution of butterfly wing color-patterns.
- Non-functional traits can be genetically assimilated, potentially through linkage with functional traits or epigenetic inheritance.
- Environmental stress can drive the evolution of novel, initially non-functional, color-patterns.
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02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
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00:53Migration
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01:20Mate Choice
Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.
01:32What is Natural Selection?
Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.