Find research datasets worth reusing

opencc-zeroDec 2014View details →

Data from: Predator mimicry, not conspicuousness, explains the efficacy of butterfly eyespots

Large conspicuous eyespots on butterfly wings have been shown to deter predators. This has been traditionally explained by mimicry of vertebrate eyes, but recently the classic eye-mimicry hypothesis has been challenged. It is proposed that the conspicuousness of the eyespot, not mimicry, is what causes aversion due to sensory biases, neophobia or sensory overloads. We conducted an experiment to directly test whether the eye-mimicry or the conspicuousness hypothesis better explain eyespot efficacy. We used great tits (Parus major) as model predator, and tested their reaction towards animated images on a computer display. Birds were tested against images of butterflies without eyespots, with natural-looking eyespots, and manipulated spots with the same contrast but reduced resemblance to an eye, as well as images of predators (owls) with and without eyes. We found that mimetic eyespots were as effective as true eyes of owls and more efficient in eliciting an aversive response than modified, less mimetic but equally contrasting eyespots. We conclude that the eye-mimicry hypothesis explains our results better than the conspicuousness hypothesis and is thus likely to be an important mechanism behind the evolution of butterfly eyespots.

opencc-zeroDec 2014View details →

Data from: Milkweed butterfly resistance to plant toxins is linked to sequestration, not coping with a toxic diet

Insect resistance to plant toxins is widely assumed to have evolved in response to using defended plants as a dietary resource. We tested this hypothesis in the milkweed butterflies (Danaini) which have progressively evolved higher levels of resistance to cardenolide toxins based on amino acid substitutions of their cellular sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+-ATPase). Using chemical, physiological, and caterpillar growth assays on diverse milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and isolated cardenolides, we show that resistant Na+/K+-ATPases are not necessary to cope with dietary cardenolides. In contrast, sequestration of cardenolides in the body (as a defense against predators) is associated with the three levels of Na+/K+-ATPase resistance. To estimate the potential physiological burden of cardenolide sequestration without Na+/K+-ATPase adaptations, we applied haemolymph of sequestering species on isolated Na+/K+-ATPase of sequestering and nonsequestering species. Haemolymph cardenolides dramatically impair non-adapted Na+/K+-ATPase, but had systematically reduced effects on Na+/K+-ATPase of sequestering species. Our data indicate that major adaptations to plant toxins may be evolutionarily linked to sequestration, and may not necessarily be a means to eat toxic plants. Na+/K+-ATPase adaptations thus were a potential mechanism through which predators spurred the coevolutionary arms race between plants and insects.

opennotspecifiedApr 2008View details →

FIGURE 2 in The butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) of the Catimbau National Park, Pernambuco, Brazil

FIGURE 2. Taxonomic composition of the Catimbau National Park butterflies.

opennotspecifiedApr 2008View details →

FIGURE 1 in The thorny subject of insular endemic taxonomy: morphometrics reveal no evidence of speciation between Coenonympha corinna and Coenonympha elbana butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

FIGURE 1. The studied area. Sardinia, not included in the map, is located south of Corsica.

opencc-zeroAug 2021View details →

The roles of wing color pattern and geography in the evolution of Neotropical Preponini butterflies

Diversification rates and evolutionary trajectories are known to be influenced by phenotypic traits and the geographic history of the landscapes that organisms inhabit. One of the most conspicuous traits in butterflies is their wing color pattern, which has been shown to be important in speciation. The evolution of many taxa in the Neotropics has also been influenced by major geological events. Using a dated, species-level molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for Preponini, a colorful Neotropical butterfly tribe, we evaluated if diversification rates were constant or varied through time, and how they were influenced by color pattern evolution and biogeographic events. We found that Preponini originated approximately 28 million years ago and that diversification has increased through time consistent with major periods of Andean uplift. Even though some clades show evolutionarily rapid transitions in coloration, contrary to our expectations, these shifts were not correlated with shifts in diversification. Involvement in mimicry with other butterfly groups might explain the rapid changes in dorsal color patterns in this tribe, but such changes have not increased species diversification in this group. However, we found evidence for an influence of major Miocene and Pliocene geological events on the tribe's evolution. Preponini apparently originated within South America and range evolution has since been dynamic, congruent with Andean geologic activity, closure of the Panama Isthmus and Miocene climate variability.

opencc-zeroAug 2021View details →

Butterfly species diversity and their floral preferences in the Rupa wetland of Nepal

The diversity of butterflies is known to some extent in Nepal, but the study of their interactions with nectar plant sources and floral attributes is limited. This study was conducted along the periphery of Rupa Wetland, a Ramsar site, from February to November 2019 to assess butterfly species diversity and to identify the factors influencing their foraging choices at nectar plants. We assessed the number of butterfly species, their abundance, and their floral foraging behavior, from 28 linear transects (500 m long each) placed in a stratified and random manner throughout the study area. Five factors, i.e., category of plant, flower colour, corolla shape, corolla depth, and the proboscis length of butterfly species were taken into account to assess the nectar plant choices of butterfly families. Moreover, species diversity at the family level, and overall, were determined through several indices. When examining overall butterfly diversity and abundance, we recorded a total of 1,535 butterflies belonging to 138 species within six families. For our examination of butterfly-nectar plant observations, we recorded a total of 298 individuals belonging to 31 species of butterfly visiting a total of 28 nectar plant species. Among the recorded butterflies, Zemeros flegyas was found to be the most abundant (92 individuals), while only a single individual each of the species Troides helena, Gandaca herina and Belonois aurota were recorded. Of the 28 nectar host plant species, Biden pilosa was the most popular and was visited by 13 species of butterflies. Overall, total butterfly visitation was found to be significantly influenced by plant category (herbaceous preferred over woody), floral colour (yellow, white, and purple preferred over pink), and corolla shape (tubular preferred over non-tubular). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.466) between the proboscis length of butterflies and the corolla tube length of flowers (p<0.001).

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2005View details →

Figure 4 in Microstructures and nanostructures of high Andean Penaincisalia lycaenid butterfly scales (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): descriptions and interpretations

Figure 4. Scanning electron micrographs of Penaincisalia culminicola scale microstructures. (A) Tile-shaped scales with dentate anterior margins; (B) low longitudinal ridges, straight cross ribs, widely opening microcells, pepperpot layers; (C) moderate longitudinal ridges, curved cross ribs with layers of wispy material; (D) high longitudinal ridges with flutes, closely set v-shaped cross ribs, rectangular and almost closed microcells.

opencc-zeroAug 2021View details →

Reduced host-plant specialization is associated with the rapid range expansion of a Mediterranean butterfly

Aim: Species ranges are highly dynamic, shifting in space and time as a result of complex ecological and evolutionary processes. Disentangling the relative contribution of both processes is challenging but of primary importance for forecasting species distributions under climate change. Here, we use the spectacular range expansion (ca. 1,000 km poleward shift within 10 years) of the butterfly Pieris mannii to unravel the factors underlying range dynamics, specifically the role of (i) niche evolution (changes in host-plant preference and acceptance) and (ii) ecological processes (climate change). Location: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France; North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse, Germany. Taxon: Insect and angiosperms. Methods: We employed a combination of (i) common garden experiments, based on replicated populations from the species' historical and newly established range and host plant species representative for each distribution range, co-occurrence analyses and (ii) grid-based correlative species distribution modeling (SDM) using Maxent. Results: We observed changes in oviposition preference, with females from the newly established populations showing reduced host-plant specialization and also an overall increased fecundity. These changes in behavior and life history may have enabled using a broader range of habitats and thus facilitated the recent range expansion. In contrast, our results indicate that the range expansion is unlikely to be directly caused by anthropogenic climate change, as the range was not constrained by climate in the first place. Main conclusions: We conclude that evolution of a broader dietary niche rather than climate change is associated with the rapid range expansion and discuss potential indirect consequences of climate change as trigger for the genetic differences found. Our study thus illustrates the importance of species interactions in shaping species distributions and range shifts, and draws attention to indirect effects of climate change. Embracing this complexity is likely key to a better understanding of range dynamics.

opennotspecifiedApr 2003View details →

F in A revision of the new riodinid butterfly genus Pseudotinea (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae)

F. 14. A map of South America illustrating the distribution of Pseudotinea species.

Punctuational ecological changes rather than global factors drive species diversification and the evolution of wing phenotypes in Morpho butterflies

Assessing the relative importance of geographical and ecological drivers of evolution is paramount to understand the diversification of species and traits at the macroevolutionary scale. Here, we use an integrative approach, combining phylogenetics, biogeography, ecology, and quantified phenotypes to investigate the drivers of both species and phenotypic diversification of the iconic Neotropical butterfly genus Morpho. We generated a time-calibrated phylogeny for all known species and inferred historical biogeography. We fitted models of time-dependent (accounting for rate heterogeneity across the phylogeny) and paleoenvironment-dependent diversification (accounting for global effect on the phylogeny). We used geometric morphometrics to assess variation of wing size and shape across the tree, and investigated their dynamics of evolution. We found that the diversification of Morpho is best explained when considering variable diversification rates across the tree, possibly associated with lineages occupying different microhabitat conditions. First, a shift from understory to canopy was characterized by an increased speciation rate partially coupled with an increasing rate of wing shape evolution. Second, the occupation of dense bamboo thickets accompanying a major host-plant shift from dicotyledons towards monocotyledons was associated with a simultaneous diversification rate shift and an evolutionary "jump" of wing size. Our study points to a diversification pattern driven by punctuational ecological changes instead of a global driver or biogeographic history.

opencc-by-4.0Apr 2009View details →

Figure 3 in Phylogeny of Dasyophthalma butterflies (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Brassolini)

Figure 3. Dasyophthalma male genitalia in lateral and ventral views (setae omitted from right side of figure), with detail of the juxta and tegumen + uncus in dorsal view, plus female sterigma and corpus bursae. The line below sterigma represents the shape of the intersegmental sac. Scale bar next to G = 1mm. A) D. creusa male, South Brazil, 01-17 dissected by C.M.Penz. B) D. creusa female, South Brazil, 01-16 dissected by C.M.Penz. C) D. vertebralis male, Brazil, Espírito Santo, 07-170 dissected by C.M.Penz. D) D. vertebralis female, [Brazil] East Amazonas, no date, 07-171 dissected by C.M.Penz. E) D. rusina male, Brazil, Santa Catarina, 01-18 dissected by C.M.Penz. F) D. rusina female (with detail of the intersegmental sac below sterigma), Brazil, Santa Catarina, São Bento do Sul, 01-19 dissected by C.M.Penz. G) D. geraensis male, Brazil, Minas Gerais, 07-169 dissected by C.M.Penz.

Behavioral data for: Effect of experience on mating behaviour in male Heliconius melpomene butterflies

This is the data file that corresponds to "Effect of experience on mating behavior in male Heliconius melpomene butterflies" by P.A. Rather, A.E. Herzog, D.A. Ernst, & E.L. Westerman, published in Animal Behaviour. It contains two spreadsheets, one with all the mating outcome data, and one with the corresponding behavioral data for the training and testing assays. Due to electrical issues with the data recording device during some of our assays, we do not have behavioral data, other than courtship and time to courtship (which were recorded both electronically and by hand) for all our assays, though we do have complete behavioral data for most of our assays. In our study, we show that H. melpomene males who have been previously exposed to a female but did not mate during that prior exposure are less likely to court during a second exposure than a naive male of the same age. This effect appears to be driven by H. m. malleti males, as H. m. malleti males exhibited a strong response to the exposure, while H. m. rosina males did not.

Supplementary material 2 from: Fiedler K (2021) The ant associates of Lycaenidae butterfly caterpillars – revisited. Nota Lepidopterologica 44: 159-174. https://doi.org/10.3897/nl.44.68993

Appendix S2

Supplementary material 1 from: Fiedler K (2021) The ant associates of Lycaenidae butterfly caterpillars – revisited. Nota Lepidopterologica 44: 159-174. https://doi.org/10.3897/nl.44.68993

Appendix S1

opencc-zeroOct 2021View details →

Butterfly functional diversity in north west Japan

Anthropogenic activities can negatively impact the major shifts in butterfly functional diversity in semi-natural ecosystems. However, little is known about their functional trait diversity, rather than total species richness, driven by forest fragmentation and urbanization. In the present study, we evaluated whether forest fragmentation and urbanization affects the functional diversity and stability of butterfly assemblages. Regarding the anthropogenic impacts on butterfly biodiversity loss, we predicted that the functional diversity and temporal stability of butterfly species would increase with increasing area of fragmented forests, and that they would be higher in the rural areas than in the urban areas. The present study demonstrated that butterfly functional diversity and stability of species composition were maintained in the presence of larger forest remnant and less urbanized areas. In particular, the uni-voltine species and species overwintering during the egg-pupa stage were significantly negatively affected by forest fragmentation. We emphasized that future studies should use multi-functional traits of insect species to evaluate the impact of human activities on insect declines, as past studies may have overlooked this significant key for assessing species vulnerability and ecological adaptations under human activities.

opencc-zeroOct 2021View details →

Demographic inferences and climatic niche modeling shed light on the evolutionary history of the emblematic cold-adapted Apollo butterfly at regional scale

Cold-adapted species escape climate warming by latitudinal and/or altitudinal range shifts, and currently occur in Southern Europe in isolated mountain ranges within 'sky islands. Here we studied the genetic structure of the Apollo butterfly in five such alpine islands (above 1000 m) in France, and infer its demographic history since the last interglacial, using single nucleotide polymorphisms (ddRADseq SNPs). The Auvergne and Alps populations show strong genetic differentiation but not alpine massifs, although separated by deep valleys. Combining three complementary demographic inference methods and species distribution models (SDMs) we show that the LIG period was highly defavorable for Apollo that probably survived in small population in the highest summits of Auvergne. The population shifted downslope and expanded eastward between LIG and LGM throughout the large climatically suitable Rhône valley between the glaciated summits of Auvergne and Alps. The Auvergne and Alps populations started diverging before the LGM but remained largely connected till the mid-Holocene. Population decline in Auvergne was more gradual but started before (~7 kya versus 800 ya), and was much stronger with current population size ten times lower than in the Alps. In the Alps, the low genetic structure and limited evidence for isolation by distance suggest a non-equilibrium metapopulation functioning. The core Apollo population experienced cycles of contraction-expansion with climate fluctuations with largely inter-connected populations over time according to a 'metapopulation-pulsar' functioning. This study demonstrates the power of combining demographic inferences and SDMs to determine past and future evolutionary trajectories of an endangered species at a regional scale.

opennotspecifiedDec 2012View details →

FIGURE 3 in A new iridescent " elfin " butterfly species of Podanotum (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini) from the Colombian Andes

FIGURE 3. Map of Colombian Andes illustrating the known distribution of Podanotum pulsar.

opencc-by-4.0May 2013View details →

Figure 9 from: Robbins R, Glassberg J (2013) A butterfly with olive green eyes discovered in the United States and the Neotropics (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Eumaeini). ZooKeys 305: 1-20. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.305.5081

Figure 9 - Male dorsal forewing scent patch showing dark brown wing scales covering tan-colored androconia.

opencc-by-4.0May 2013View details →

Figure 7 from: Robbins R, Glassberg J (2013) A butterfly with olive green eyes discovered in the United States and the Neotropics (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Eumaeini). ZooKeys 305: 1-20. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.305.5081

Figure 7 - Bursa copulatrix of the female genitalia of Ministrymon janevicroy (left, Venezuela) and Ministrymon azia (Mexico) in dorso-lateral aspect, posterior of butterfly at top. Arrow on left points to the membranous "neck" of the anterior ductus bursae. Arrow on right points to the well-formed posterior pouch from which the ductus seminalis arises. Scale 1 mm.