Bioluminescence in firefly larvae: A test of the aposematic display hypothesis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Underwood, Todd J.; Tallamy, Douglas W.; Pesek, J

doi:10.1007/bf02765604

Cited by 60 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…These reactions occur in discrete organs located on the ventral abdomen known as lanterns or photic organs (POs). POs are complex, integrated structures (figure 1) that play a well-known role in courtship rituals among conspecific adult fireflies and may have aposematic function in larvae [10]. Most significantly, outside of the POs of a few closely related luminescent beetle families, lanterns lack homology to any known structure in other insect or arthropod groups and therefore can be considered evolutionary novelties by even the strictest definition [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The function of Hox and appendage-patterning genes in the development of an evolutionary novelty, thePhoturisfirefly lantern

Stansbury

Moczek

2014

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Uncovering the mechanisms underlying the evolution of novel traits is a central challenge in biology. The lanterns of fireflies are complex traits that lack even remote homology to structures outside luminescent beetle families. Representing unambiguous novelties by the strictest definition, their developmental underpinnings may provide clues to their origin and offer insights into the mechanisms of innovation in developmental evolution. Lanterns develop within the context of abdominal Hox expression domains, and we hypothesized that lantern formation may be instructed in part by these highly conserved transcription factors. We show that transcript depletion of Abdominal-B in Photuris fireflies results in extensive disruption of the adult lantern, suggesting that the evolution of adult lanterns involved the acquisition of a novel regulatory role for this Hox gene. Using the same approach, we show that the Hox gene abdominal-A may control important secondary aspects of lantern development. Lastly, we hypothesized that lantern evolution may have involved the recruitment of dormant abdominal appendage-patterning domains; however, transcript depletion of two genes, Distal-less and dachshund, suggests that they do not contribute to lantern development. Our results suggest that complex novelties can arise within the confines of ancestral regulatory landscapes through acquisition of novel targets without compromising ancestral functions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The function of Hox and appendage-patterning genes in the development of an evolutionary novelty, thePhoturisfirefly lantern

Stansbury

Moczek

2014

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…In 1974 Okada et al injected 14 Coxyluciferin and 14 C-2-cyano-6-hydroxybenzothiazole (2C6HB) into living fireflies and detected 14 C-luciferin after a number of hours (70). They concluded that the luminescent product, oxyluciferin, is recycled to the substrate luciferin for subsequent light emission (71).…”

Section: Structure and Biosynthesis Of Beetle Luciferinmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The roles of bioluminescence in these various organisms are wide-ranging, including prey attraction (11), sexual communication (2, 3), aposematic signalling (4,(12)(13)(14) and camouflage and protection (15)(16)(17)(18). There are also many examples where the precise roles for bioluminescence are unclear.…”

Section: Evolutionary Origins Of Bioluminescencementioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of beetle bioluminescence: the origin of beetle luciferin

2004

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Bioluminescence, the conversion of chemical energy into light in living organisms, is dependent on two principal components, an enzyme luciferase and the substrate luciferin. In beetles, the enzyme luciferase has been extensively studied, with significant enzymological, sequence and structural data now available. Furthermore, the enzyme has been employed in a remarkable number of important applications, from microbial detection and medical imaging to GM gene expression studies. However, there is little information regarding the biosynthesis of beetle luciferin, and here we review the literature and speculate as to its evolutionary origins. Luciferin consists of a benzothiazole moiety attached to a thiazole carboxylic acid moiety, the former being rarely observed in nature but the latter being observed in a broad range of biologically derived molecules. Benzothiazoles are, however, observed in melanogenesis and we speculate as to whether this may be relevant to the understanding of luciferin biosynthesis in beetles. This review examines recent novel insights into beetle luciferin recycling and we assess a range of possible biosynthetic mechanisms.

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“…Hence, it has been suggested that their luminescence may be for aposematic display (Lloyd, 1973;Ohba and Hidaka, 2002), akin to the conspicuous coloration of non-luminous cantharoids (Sagegami-Oba et al, 2007). Larval luminescence of lampyrid species seems to be also for aposematic display (Sivinski, 1981;Underwood et al, 1997;De Cock and Matthysen, 2003;Branham and Wenzel, 2003). Based on the fact that all known lampyrid species are luminous as larvae (Branham and Wenzel, 2003), it has been argued that bioluminescence in the Lampyridae had first evolved as an aposematic signal and was subsequently co-opted as a courtship signal (Branham and Wenzel, 2003).…”

Section: Fireflies (Lampyridae)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Eisner et al (1978) demonstrated that fireflies possess defensive steroids in effective quantities to deter predation. Lizards, birds and mice quickly learn to associate bioluminescence with a distasteful organism (Underwood et al, 1997;Matthysen, 1999, 2003;Knight et al, 1999). Hence, it has been suggested that their luminescence may be for aposematic display (Lloyd, 1973;Ohba and Hidaka, 2002), akin to the conspicuous coloration of non-luminous cantharoids (Sagegami-Oba et al, 2007).…”

Section: Fireflies (Lampyridae)mentioning

confidence: 99%