A5066113399- Plant and animal studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Marine animal studies overview
- Digital Imaging for Blood Diseases
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Distributed and Parallel Computing Systems
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Advanced Data Storage Technologies
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Algorithms and Data Compression
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
University of York
2015-2024
University College London
2002-2016
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
2002-2016
University of Cambridge
2002-2015
University of Turku
2015
Natural History Museum
2015
Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive
2015
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2015
Harvard University
2015
UCL Australia
2007
The evolutionary importance of hybridization and introgression has long been debated. Hybrids are usually rare unfit, but even infrequent can aid adaptation by transferring beneficial traits between species. Here we use genomic tools to investigate in Heliconius, a rapidly radiating genus neotropical butterflies widely used studies ecology, behaviour, mimicry speciation. We sequenced the genome Heliconius melpomene compared it with other taxa chromosomal evolution Lepidoptera gene flow among...
Most speciation events probably occur gradually, without complete and immediate reproductive isolation, but the full extent of gene flow between diverging species has rarely been characterized on a genome-wide scale. Documenting timing admixture can clarify role geographic isolation in speciation. Here we use new methodology to quantify at different stages divergence Heliconius butterflies, based whole-genome sequences 31 individuals. Comparisons sympatric allopatric populations H. melpomene...
We used 20 de novo genome assemblies to probe the speciation history and architecture of gene flow in rapidly radiating Heliconius butterflies. Our tests distinguish incomplete lineage sorting from introgression indicate that has obscured several ancient phylogenetic relationships this group over large swathes genome. Introgressed loci are underrepresented low-recombination gene-rich regions, consistent with purging foreign alleles more tightly linked incompatibility loci. Here, we identify...
Heliconius butterflies represent a recent radiation of species, in which wing pattern divergence has been implicated speciation. Several loci that control phenotypes have mapped and two were identified through sequencing. These same gene regions play role adaptation across the whole radiation. Previous studies population genetic patterns at these sequenced small amplicons. Here, we use targeted next-generation sequence capture to survey entire divergent geographical races species Heliconius....
Significance Many studies of wild populations reveal links between heterozygosity and fitness, with relatively heterozygous individuals carrying fewer parasites, living longer being more attractive to mates. These patterns appear ubiquitous are often highly significant, but usually accounts for very little the total variation in fitness. However, most analyze only around 10 loci, representing a tiny fraction genome. We therefore used high-throughput DNA sequencing estimate genome-wide based...
We estimated the spontaneous mutation rate in Heliconius melpomene by genome sequencing of a pair parents and 30 their offspring, based on ratio number de novo heterozygotes to callable site-individuals. detected nine new mutations, each one affecting single site offspring. This yields an 2.9 × 10−9 (95% confidence interval, 1.3 10−9–5.5 10−9), which is similar recent estimates Drosophila melanogaster, only other insect species has been directly estimated. infer that effective population...
Müllerian mimicry among Neotropical Heliconiini butterflies is an excellent example of natural selection, associated with the diversification a large continental-scale radiation. Some processes driving evolution rings are likely to generate incongruent phylogenetic signals across assemblage, and thus pose challenge for systematics. We use data set 22 mitochondrial nuclear markers from 92% species in tribe, obtained by Sanger sequencing de novo assembly short read data, re-examine phylogeny...
Abstract Hybridization allows adaptations to be shared among lineages and may trigger the evolution of new species 1,2 . However, convincing examples homoploid hybrid speciation remain rare because it is challenging demonstrate that hybridization was crucial in generating reproductive isolation 3 Here we combine population genomic analysis with quantitative trait locus mapping species-specific traits examine a case Heliconius butterflies. We show elevatus sympatric both parents has persisted...
DNA ‘barcoding’ relies on a short fragment of mitochondrial to infer identification specimens. The method depends genetic diversity being markedly lower within than between species. Closely related species are most likely share variation in communities where speciation rates rapid and effective population sizes large, such that coalescence times long. We assessed the applicability barcoding (here 5′ half cytochrome c oxidase I ) diverse community butterflies from upper Amazon, using group...
Abstract The H eliconius butterflies are a diverse recent radiation comprising multiple levels of divergence with ongoing gene flow between species. recently sequenced genome melpomene allowed us to investigate the genomic evolution this group using dense RAD marker sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis 54 individuals robustly supported reciprocal monophyly . and cydno refuted previous phylogenetic hypotheses that may be paraphylectic respect timareta also formed monophyletic clade closely...
Secondary plant compounds are strong deterrents of insect oviposition and feeding, but may also be attractants for specialist herbivores. These insect-plant interactions mediated by gustatory receptors (Grs) olfactory (Ors). An analysis the reference genome butterfly Heliconius melpomene, which feeds on passion-flower vines (Passiflora spp.), together with whole-genome sequencing within species across phylogeny has permitted an unprecedented opportunity to study patterns gene duplication...
An important goal in evolutionary biology is to understand the genetic changes underlying novel morphological structures. We investigated origins of a complex wing pattern found among Amazonian Heliconius butterflies. Genome sequence data from 142 individuals across 17 species identified narrow regions associated with two distinct red colour elements, dennis and ray. hypothesise that these modules non-coding represent cis-regulatory loci control expression transcription factor optix, which...
The Heliconius butterflies are a widely studied adaptive radiation of 46 species spread across Central and South America, several which known to hybridize in the wild. Here, we present substantially improved assembly melpomene genome, developed using novel methods that should be applicable improving other genome assemblies produced short read sequencing. First, whole-genome-sequenced pedigree produce linkage map incorporating 99% genome. Second, incorporated haplotype scaffolds extensively...
Abstract As the generation and use of genomic datasets is becoming increasingly common in all areas biology, need for resources to collate, analyse present data from independent (Tier 1) species-level genome projects into well supported clade-oriented 2) databases provide a mechanism these be propagated pan-taxonomic 3) more pressing. Lepbase Tier 2 resource Lepidoptera, supporting research community using approaches understand evolution, speciation, olfaction, behaviour pesticide resistance...
Mimicry and extensive geographical subspecies polymorphism combine to make species in the ithomiine butterfly genus Mechanitis (Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae) difficult determine. We use mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) barcoding, nuclear sequences amplified fragment length (AFLP) genotyping investigate limits this genus. Although earlier biosystematic studies based on morphology described only four species, mtDNA barcoding revealed eight well-differentiated haplogroups, suggesting presence of new...
Although hybridization is thought to be relatively rare in animals, the raw genetic material introduced via introgression may play an important role fueling adaptation and adaptive radiation. The butterfly genus Heliconius excellent system study but most studies have focused on closely related species such as H. cydno melpomene. Here we characterize genome-wide patterns of between besckei, only with a red yellow banded 'postman' wing pattern tiger-striped silvaniform clade, co-mimetic...
In a series of dawn-to-dusk studies, we examined the nature and accessibility nectar rewards for pollinating insects by monitoring insect visits secretion rate standing crop in British native plant species Salvia pratensis , Stachys palustris S. officinalis Lythrum salicaria Linaria vulgaris non-native Calendula Petunia × hybrida splendens possibly introduced Saponaria . We also compared single with double variants Lotus corniculatus All studied are nectar-rich recommended...
Anartia fatima and amathea (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) are sister taxa whose ranges abut in a narrow hybrid zone eastern Panama. At the center of zone, hybrids abundant, although deviations from Hardy‐Weinberg linkage disequilibria strong, due part to assortative mating. We measured differences across four wing color‐pattern characters, three allozyme loci, mitochondrial haplotype. Wing pattern, allozyme, clines were coincident (i.e., had same positions) concordant all markers similar cline...
Identifying the genetic changes driving adaptive variation in natural populations is key to understanding origins of biodiversity. The mosaic mimetic wing patterns Heliconius butterflies makes an excellent system for exploring using next-generation sequencing. In this study, we use a combination techniques annotate genomic interval modulating red color pattern variation, identify narrow region responsible divergence and convergence patterns, explore evolutionary history these alleles. We...
Attempts by biogeographers to understand biotic diversification in the Amazon have often employed contemporary species distribution patterns support particular theories, such as Pleistocene rainforest refugia, rather than test among alternative hypotheses. Suture zones, narrow regions where multiple contact zones and hybrid between taxa cluster, been seen evidence for past expansion of whole biotas that undergone allopatric divergence vicariant refuges. We used coalescent analysis mutilocus...
Abstract Studying recent adaptive radiations in isolated insular systems avoids complicating causal events and thus may offer clearer insight into mechanisms generating biological diversity. Here, we investigate evolutionary relationships genomic differentiation within the radiation of Alcolapia cichlid fish that exhibit extensive phenotypic diversification, which are confined to extreme soda lakes Magadi Natron East Africa. We generated an RAD data set 96 individuals from multiple sampling...
Ecomorphological differentiation is a key feature of adaptive radiations, with general trend for specialization and niche expansion following divergence. Ecological opportunity afforded by invasion new habitat thought to act as an ecological release, facilitating divergence, speciation. Here, we investigate trophic morphology ecology endemic clade oreochromine cichlid fishes (Alcolapia) that radiated along herbivorous axis colonization isolated lacustrine environment, demonstrate...