Convergent morphology and divergent phenology: unravelling the coexistence of mimeticMorphobutterfly species

Abstract

The emergence and persistence of closely-related species in sympatry is puzzling because the potential gene flow and the common local selective pressures may lead to either merging or competitive exclusion. Some species of Morpho butterflies occurring in sympatry display highly similar wing colour patterns. Associated with erratic flight abilities, their bright colouration may limit predator success and discourage future attacks. The evolution of similar colouration in sympatric species is thus likely under local selection by predators (i.e. escape mimicry). Such phenotypic similarity may promote interspecific territoriality and/or reproductive interference, questioning how closely-related co-mimetic species become sexually isolated and coexist in sympatry. We performed a series of field experiments using flying Morpho dummies placed in a natural habitat where wild males commonly patrol. Analysing the interactions of wild Morpho with different dummies, we show that similarity in wing colour pattern leads to interspecific territoriality and courtship among sympatric species. Using genomic data, we then showed that sympatric Morpho species are surprisingly strictly isolated despite their close relatedness and the observed heterospecific interactions. Finally, using a mark-recapture experiment, we discovered a strong temporal segregation in patrolling activity of males from two co-mimetic sister species. Such divergence in phenology may favour sympatry between closely-related species, despite behavioural interferences induced by the local convergence in colour pattern. Altogether, our findings show that temporal segregation may facilitate the co-existence of closely-related species sharing the same ecological niche, suggesting that phenological shifts may represent an overlooked factor of sympatric speciation. Our study therefore highlights how the evolution of multiple traits may favour species diversification in sympatry by partitioning niche in different dimensions.

The limits of evolutionary convergence in sympatry: reproductive interference and historical constraints leading to local diversity in warning traits

“…Micro-habitat differences among mimetic species may also allow reducing heterospecific encounters while still enjoying the benefit of mimicry by sharing the same predator community (Estrada and Jiggins, 2002). In three Morpho butterfly species displaying local convergence in wing patterns (Llaurens et al, 2021), temporal segregation in patrolling activity has been observed between species sharing similar color patterns (Le Roy et al, 2020), which may strongly limit heterospecific rivalry.…”

“…These species nevertheless have different host specialization (Noriyuki et al, 2011), that may limit reproductive interference (Noriyuki, 2015). Likewise, in three Morpho butterfly species displaying local convergence in wing patterns (Llaurens et al, 2021), temporal segregation in patrolling activity has been observed between species sharing similar color patterns (Le Roy et al, 2020), which may strongly limit heterospecific rivalry.…”