A5081956031- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Silkworms and Sericulture Research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Spaceflight effects on biology
Oxford Brookes University
2013-2024
Genomics (United Kingdom)
2023-2024
University of Antwerp
2006-2009
University of Exeter
2007-2008
Leiden University
1996-2006
University of Manchester
2005-2006
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva
1998-2005
Significance Our study assesses the long-held hypothesis that evolution of new gene functions underlies diversification animal forms. To do this, we systematically compared patterning roles a single across seven butterfly species. Under null stasis, each knockout experiment should yield directly comparable phenotypes. We instead observed varied repertoire lineage-specific effects in different wing regions, demonstrating repeated modification key instructive signal was instrumental complex...
The nature of developmental buffering processes has been debated extensively, based on both theoretical reasoning and empirical studies. In particular, controversy focused the question whether distinct are responsible for canalization, against environmental or genetic variation, stability, random variation intrinsic in processes. Here, we address this size shape Drosophila melanogaster wings an experimental design with extensively replicated fully controlled genotypes. amounts among...
This study examines the causes of emigration from small fragments suitable habitat in a species that has distinct metapopulation structure, frequent turnover local populations, and substantial migration among populations currently unoccupied fragments. We conducted field experiment which 727 individuals Glanville fritillary butterfly ( Melitaea cinxia ) originating four regions were marked released simultaneously natural environment. In three source regions, larvae for collected dozens some...
Abstract Background Butterflies are popular model organisms to study physiological mechanisms underlying variability in oogenesis and egg provisioning response environmental conditions. Nothing is known, however, about; the developmental governing butterfly oogenesis, how polarity oocyte established, or which particular maternal effect genes regulate early embryogenesis. To gain insights into these identify conserved divergent aspects of we analysed a de novo ovarian transcriptome Speckled...
A striking diversity of compound eye size and shape has evolved among insects. The number ommatidia their are major determinants the visual sensitivity acuity eye. Each ommatidium is composed eight photoreceptor cells that facilitate discrimination different colours via expression various light sensitive Rhodopsin proteins. It follows variation in size, shape, opsin composition likely to directly influence vision. We analyzed these three traits D. melanogaster, simulans mauritiana. show...
Gene duplications within the conserved Hox cluster are rare in animal evolution, but Lepidoptera an array of divergent Hox-related genes (Shx genes) has been reported between pb and zen. Here, we use genome sequencing five lepidopteran species (Polygonia c-album, Pararge aegeria, Callimorpha dominula, Cameraria ohridella, Hepialus sylvina) plus a caddisfly outgroup (Glyphotaelius pellucidus) to trace evolution Shx genes. We demonstrate that originated by tandem duplication zen early large...
The eyespots on the ventral wings of Bicyclus anynana butterflies are exposed when at rest and interact with predators. Those dorsal surface not in this way, may be involved courtship mate choice. In study, we examined whether size fluctuating asymmetry (FA) reliable signals male quality. High developmental stability is considered to result low FA, associated high Individuals quality predicted produce sexually selected traits that large symmetrical, a relatively cost. manipulated eyespot...
We examined whether dispersal was associated with body and wing morphology individual quality, such an association sex-specific, in the Glanville fritillary butterfly Melitaea cinxia (L.) Paldiski on north coast of Estonia.Body weight, size shape both fore-and hindwing, aspect ratio loading were used as measures morphology.Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) a measure quality.Males females did not differ rates, despite large differences overall FA.Females had significantly higher ratio, but lower FA...
A small number of free-living viruses have been found to be obligately vertically transmitted, but it remains uncertain how widespread transmitted are and quickly they can spread through host populations. Recent metagenomic studies several insects infected with sigma ( Rhabdoviridae ). Here, we report that infect Mediterranean fruit flies Ceratitis capitata ), Drosophila immigrans , speckled wood butterflies Pararge aegeria ) all transmitted. We find patterns vertical transmission consistent...
A pedigree approach is used to estimate the effective population size yn two cages of butterfly, Bicyclus anynana. Each cage was founded with 54 individually marked adults each sex. Matings were recorded over a 3-day period. Eggs then collected from female similar period before numbers hatching larvae counted assess progeny number. The males showed higher variance in reproductive success than females. Since about one-quarter all females mated more once, we also examined pattern sperm...
As a result of increased habitat fragmentation in anthropogenic landscapes, flying insects may be required to travel over larger distances search resources such as suitable host plants for oviposition. The oögenesis–flight syndrome hypothesis predicts that physiological constraints caused by an overlap the used thoracic muscles during flight and oögenesis (e.g. carbohydrates, lipids water) resource trade-off, with any no longer available reproduction. Increased costs could therefore...
Abstract Background Maternal condition can generate resource-related maternal effects through differential egg provisioning, and greatly affect offspring performance. In the present study, speckled wood butterfly Pararge aegeria (L.) was used to investigate whether (after controlling for size) age, increased flight during oviposition period, resulted in changes provisioning this contributed variation performance, i) early development (egg stage post-hatching development), ii) later larval...
Abstract With global climate change, rainfall is becoming more variable. Predicting the responses of species to changing levels difficult because, for example in herbivorous species, these effects may be mediated indirectly through changes host plant quality. Furthermore, result from a simultaneous interaction between and other environmental variables such as anthropogenic land use or habitat In this eco‐evolutionary study, we examined how male female Pararge aegeria (L.) woodland...
In aerial animals, flight morphology needs to be designed allow daily behavioural activities. Within species differences in behaviour can therefore expected relate morphology, not only between males and females but also same-sex members when they use different strategies. female polymorphic damselflies, one morph is considered a male mimic that resembles the male’s body colour (andromorph), whereas other dissimilar (gynomorph). Here, we questioned whether males, andromorphs, gynomorphs of...
The transition to cooperative breeding may alter maternal investment strategies depending on density of breeders, extent reproductive skew, and allo-maternal care. Change in optimal from solitary can be investigated by comparing social species with nonsocial congeners. We tested two hypotheses a mainly semelparous system: that social, compared subsocial, solitarily congeners, (1) lay fewer larger eggs because offspring compete better for limited resources become reproducers; (2) induce egg...
We examined the roles of wing melanisation, weight, and basking posture in thermoregulation Polyommatus Icarus, a phenotypically variable protandrous member diverse Polyommatinae (Lycaenidae). Under controlled experimental conditions, approximating to marginal environmental conditions for activity field (= infrequent flight, long duration periods), warming rates are maximised with fully open wings maximum body temperatures dependent on weight. Variation melanisation within between sexes has...
The Wnt signalling pathway is an important developmental involved in many cellular processes such cell cycle, proliferation and differentiation. ligands are released by source cells signal to target binding the Frizzled receptor family triggering changes downstream gene expression. evolved early animal evolution expansion repertoire of ligands, which thought achieve specificity robustness present. There 13 known ligand families metazoans but little about these lineages. Understanding roles...
Abstract Behavioural stresses such as crowding are thought to incur a metabolic cost insect larvae, and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) has been shown be possible indicator of this stress. A study Madeiran population the butterfly Pararge aegeria L. (Lepidoptera: Satyrinae) shows that larval affects development growth, with female larvae being more adversely affected than males. It was predicted if increases FA, male P. adults may show different responses The FA five wing pattern elements on...
The flea beetle Phyllotreta nemorum L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is genetically polymorphic for resistance against the defences of one its host plants, Barbarea vulgaris R.Br. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae). Whereas resistant beetles are able to use B. as well other cruciferous plants food, non-resistant cannot survive on vulgaris. This limitation plant could potentially lead asymmetric gene flow and some degree genetic isolation between different resistance-genotypes. Therefore, we studied...