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Heritable variation in colour patterns mediating individual recognition.

Michael J Sheehan1, Juanita Choo2, Elizabeth A Tibbetts3

  • 1Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, NY, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48190, MI, USA.

Royal Society Open Science
|April 8, 2017
PubMed
Summary

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This summary is machine-generated.

Polistes fuscatus paper wasps use heritable color patterns for facial recognition. This variation is maintained by selection for recognizable identity signals, preserving genetic diversity.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Behavioral ecology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Polistes fuscatus paper wasps exhibit significant color pattern variation.
  • These patterns are crucial for individual recognition and reducing aggression.
  • Selection for identity signals can impact phenotypic and genetic diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the heritability of color patterns in Polistes fuscatus.
  • To determine the genetic basis of color pattern diversity for facial recognition.
  • To understand how selection maintains this diversity.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed heritability of color patterns in a wild population.
  • Analyzed genetic correlations among traits.
  • Examined segregation patterns of underlying loci.
Keywords:
animal modelcolour patterninggenetic architectureindividual recognitionnegative frequency-dependent selectionpaper wasps

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Main Results:

  • Color patterns in Polistes fuscatus are heritable but not Mendelian.
  • Multiple unlinked loci appear to underlie color pattern variation.
  • Genetic correlations suggest independent segregation of loci.

Conclusions:

  • Heritable variation in color patterns is maintained by selection for recognizability.
  • Benefits of individual recognition promote genetic diversity at multiple loci.
  • This mechanism supports phenotypic diversity essential for social interactions.