Marginal Eyespots on Butterfly Wings Deflect Bird Attacks Under Low Light Intensities with UV Wavelengths

Olofsson, Martin; Vallin, Adrian; Jakobsson, Sven; Wiklund, Christer

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010798

Cited by 124 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…B 281: 20133262 diversified in ecological function as they were co-opted from the ventral to the dorsal wing surfaces. Comparative analyses and behavioural observations of contemporary taxa indicate that nymphalid eyespots appear to have separate functions depending on where they are located on the wing: dorsal and anterior eyespots are primarily associated with mate signalling, whereas ventral and hindwing eyespots are associated with predator avoidance [14,16,17,34]. This functional specialization may have originated in one of two different ways.…”

Section: (B) Evolution Of Eyespot Individualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Nymphalid eyespot serial homologues originate as a few individualized modules

et al. 2014

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Serial homologues are repeated traits that share similar development but occur in different parts of the body. Variation in number of repeats accounts for substantial diversity in animal form and considerable work has focused on identifying the factors accounting for this variation. Little is known, however, about how serial homologues originally become repeated, or about the relative timing of repeat individuation relative to repeat origin. Here, we show that the serially repeated eyespots on nymphalid butterfly wings most likely arose as a small cluster of units on the ventral hindwing that were later co-opted to the dorsal and anterior wing surfaces. Based on comparative analyses of over 400 species, we found support for a model of eyespot origin followed by redeployment, rather than by the conventional model, where eyespots arose as a complete row of undifferentiated units that later gained individuation. In addition, eyespots most likely evolved from simpler pattern elements, single-coloured spots, which were already individuated among different wing sectors. Finally, the late appearance of eyespots on the dorsal, hidden wing surface further suggests that these novel complex traits originally evolved for one function (thwarting predator attacks) and acquired a second function (sexual signalling) when moved to a different body location. This broad comparative analysis illustrates how serial homologues may initially evolve as a few units serving a particular function and subsequently become repeated in novel body locations with new functions.

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Section: (B) Evolution Of Eyespot Individualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Nymphalid eyespot serial homologues originate as a few individualized modules

et al. 2014

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“…For instance, peacock butterflies, Inachis io, when attacked by a bird will rapidly display the large hidden eyespots on the dorsal surface of their wings that startle the predator and help the butterfly escape (Vallin et al, 2005). Alternatively, at low-light conditions, when many insectivorous birds are searching for food, the smaller eyespots adorning the margins of the wings of many satyrid butterflies are sufficient to deflect bird attacks toward the wing margin and away from the body (Olofsson et al, 2010). Eyespot size and number can trade off with each other in equally effective ways for the purpose of predator deterrence (Stevens et al, 2008b).…”

Section: Eyespots On Butterfly Wingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the thread of nature’s tapestry: the genetics of diversity and convergence in animal pigmentation

Kronforst

Barsh

Kopp

et al. 2012

Pigment Cell Melanoma Res

124

131

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SummaryAnimals display incredibly diverse color patterns yet little is known about the underlying genetic basis of these phenotypes. However, emerging results are reshaping our view of how the process of phenotypic evolution occurs. Here, we outline recent research from three particularly active areas of investigation: melanin pigmentation in Drosophila, wing patterning in butterflies, and pigment variation in lizards. For each system, we highlight (i) the function and evolution of color variation, (ii) various approaches that have been used to explore the genetic basis of pigment variation, and (iii) conclusions regarding the genetic basis of convergent evolution which have emerged from comparative analyses. Results from these studies indicate that natural variation in pigmentation is a particularly powerful tool to examine the molecular basis of evolution, especially with regard to convergent or parallel evolution. Comparison of these systems also reveals that the molecular basis of convergent evolution is heterogeneous, sometimes involving conserved mechanisms and sometimes not. In the near future, additional work in other emerging systems will substantially expand the scope of available comparisons.

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“…Eyespots on artificial butterfly (5) and fish (4) prey draw strikes of avian and fish predators. Eyespots on the wing margins of woodland brown butterflies (Lopinga achine) lure the attacks of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) (6). Brightly colored lizard tails also divert avian predator attacks to this expendable body region (7).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Moth tails divert bat attack: Evolution of acoustic deflection

Barber

Leavell

Keener

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Adaptations to divert the attacks of visually guided predators have evolved repeatedly in animals. Using high-speed infrared videography, we show that luna moths (Actias luna) generate an acoustic diversion with spinning hindwing tails to deflect echolocating bat attacks away from their body and toward these nonessential appendages. We pit luna moths against big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and demonstrate a survival advantage of ∼47% for moths with tails versus those that had their tails removed. The benefit of hindwing tails is equivalent to the advantage conferred to moths by bat-detecting ears. Moth tails lured bat attacks to these wing regions during 55% of interactions between bats and intact luna moths. We analyzed flight kinematics of moths with and without hindwing tails and suggest that tails have a minimal role in flight performance. Using a robust phylogeny, we find that long spatulate tails have independently evolved four times in saturniid moths, further supporting the selective advantage of this anti-bat strategy. Diversionary tactics are perhaps more common than appreciated in predator-prey interactions. Our finding suggests that focusing on the sensory ecologies of key predators will reveal such countermeasures in prey.antipredator defense | bat-moth interactions | Lepidoptera | Saturniidae P redators are under pressure to perform incapacitating initial strikes to thwart prey escape. It is thought that prey, in turn, have evolved conspicuous colors or markings to deflect predator attack to less vulnerable body regions (1, 2). Eyespots are a wellknown class of proposed deflection marks (3), which are found in a variety of taxa, including Lepidoptera (3) and fishes (4), but only recently have experiments convincingly demonstrated that these color patterns redirect predatory assault. Eyespots on artificial butterfly (5) and fish (4) prey draw strikes of avian and fish predators. Eyespots on the wing margins of woodland brown butterflies (Lopinga achine) lure the attacks of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) (6). Brightly colored lizard tails also divert avian predator attacks to this expendable body region (7).Deflection coloration is unlikely to be an effective strategy against echolocating bats, as these predators have scotopic vision and poor visual acuity unsuited for prey localization and discrimination (8). Most bats rely on echoes from their sonar cries to image prey and other objects in their environment-they live in an auditory world (9). Thus, we would expect a deflection strategy, effective against bats, to present diversionary acoustic signatures to these hearing specialists. Weeks (10) proposed that saturniid hindwing tails might serve to divert bat attacks from essential body parts. We hypothesized that saturniid tails, spinning behind a flying moth (Movie S1) and reflecting sonar calls, serve as either a highly contrasting component of the primary echoic target or as an alternative target. We predicted that bats would aim their attacks at moth tails, instead of the wings or body, durin...

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Marginal Eyespots on Butterfly Wings Deflect Bird Attacks Under Low Light Intensities with UV Wavelengths

Cited by 124 publications

References 35 publications

Nymphalid eyespot serial homologues originate as a few individualized modules

Nymphalid eyespot serial homologues originate as a few individualized modules

Unraveling the thread of nature’s tapestry: the genetics of diversity and convergence in animal pigmentation

Moth tails divert bat attack: Evolution of acoustic deflection

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