A5009397506- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Plant and animal studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Light effects on plants
- Study of Mite Species
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Remote Sensing in Agriculture
- Dye analysis and toxicity
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Agricultural Practices and Plant Genetics
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
Auburn University
2021-2023
Mississippi State University
2012-2021
Google (United States)
2020
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
2017
North Carolina State University
2008-2010
Louisiana State University
2004-2006
Duke University
2006
University of California, Santa Barbara
2005
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...
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...
Mimicry--whereby warning signals in different species evolve to look similar--has long served as a paradigm of convergent evolution. Little is known, however, about the genes that underlie evolution mimetic phenotypes or what extent same drive such convergence. Here, we characterize one major responsible for wing pattern Heliconius butterflies. Mapping, gene expression, and population genetic work all identify single gene, optix, controls extreme red variation across multiple Heliconius. Our...
Although animals display a rich variety of shapes and patterns, the genetic changes that explain how complex forms arise are still unclear. Here we take advantage extensive diversity Heliconius butterflies to identify gene causes adaptive variation black wing patterns within between species. Linkage mapping in two species groups, gene-expression analysis seven species, pharmacological treatments all indicate cis -regulatory evolution WntA ligand underpins discrete color pattern features...
Hybrid zones can be valuable tools for studying evolution and identifying genomic regions responsible adaptive divergence underlying phenotypic variation. between subspecies of Heliconius butterflies very narrow are maintained by strong selection acting on color pattern. The comimetic species, H. erato melpomene, have parallel hybrid in which both species undergo a change from one pattern form to another. We use restriction-associated DNA sequencing obtain several thousand genome-wide...
The use of image data to quantify, study and compare variation in the colors patterns organisms requires alignment images establish homology, followed by color-based segmentation images. Here we describe an R package for that has applications quantify color a wide range organisms. patternize is quantifies obtained from data. first defines homology between pattern positions across specimens either through manually placed homologous landmarks or automated registration. Pattern identification...
Color pattern mimicry in Heliconius butterflies is a classic case study of complex trait adaptation via selection on few large effect genes. Association studies have linked color variation to handful noncoding regions, yet the presumptive cis-regulatory elements (CREs) that control patterning remain unknown. Here we combine chromatin assays, DNA sequence associations, and genome editing functionally characterize 5 gene optix . We were surprised find architecture characterized by pleiotropy...
The mimetic butterflies Heliconius erato and melpomene have undergone parallel radiations to form a near-identical patchwork of over 20 different wing-pattern races across the Neotropics. Previous molecular phylogenetic work on these has suggested that similar but geographically disjunct color patterns arose multiple times independently in each species. neutral markers used studies, however, can move freely pattern boundaries, therefore might not represent history adaptive traits as...
Little is known about the extent to which species use homologous regulatory architectures achieve phenotypic convergence. By characterizing chromatin accessibility and gene expression in developing wing tissues, we compared architecture of convergence between a pair mimetic butterfly species. Although handful color pattern genes are be involved their convergence, our data suggest that different mutational paths underlie integration these into development. This supported by large fraction...
Reinforcement occurs when natural selection strengthens behavioral discrimination to prevent costly interspecies matings, such as matings produce sterile hybrids. This evolutionary process can complete speciation, thereby providing a direct link between Darwin's theory of and the origin new species. Here, by examining case speciation reinforcement in Drosophila,we present first high-resolution genetic study variation within species for female mating that is enhanced selection. We show...
Wing pattern evolution in Heliconius butterflies provides some of the most striking examples adaptation by natural selection. The genes controlling variation are classic Mendelian loci large effect, where allelic causes and discrete phenotypic changes is responsible for both convergent highly divergent wing across genus. We characterize nucleotide variation, genotype-by-phenotype associations, linkage disequilibrium (LD), candidate gene expression patterns two unlinked genomic intervals that...
Wing patterning in Heliconius butterflies is a longstanding example of both Müllerian mimicry and phenotypic radiation under strong natural selection. The loci controlling such patterns are “hotspots” for adaptive evolution with great allelic diversity across different species the genus. We characterise nucleotide variation, genotype-by-phenotype associations, linkage disequilibrium, candidate gene expression at two multiple hybrid zones melpomene relatives. Alleles HmB control presence or...
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...
Sex chromosomes are disproportionately involved in reproductive isolation and adaptation. In support of such a "large-X" effect, genome scans between recently diverged populations species pairs often identify distinct patterns divergence on the sex chromosome compared to autosomes. When measures higher autosomes, could be interpreted as evidence for faster chromosome, that is "faster-X", barriers gene flow chromosome. However, demographic changes can strongly skew estimates not always taken...
Significance Incipient species are at an intermediate stage of speciation where reproductive isolation is counteracted by the homogenizing effects gene flow. Human activity sometimes leads such to reunite, as seen in Orange Sulphur butterfly, which forms large hybridizing populations with Clouded alfalfa fields. Here we show that sex chromosomes maintain these distinct, while rest their genome admixed. Sex notably determine males display females a bright, iridescent UV signal on wings....
Abstract Background Transposable elements (TEs) have the potential to impact genome structure, function and evolution in profound ways. In order understand contribution of transposable Heliconius melpomene , we queried H. draft sequence identify repetitive sequences. Results We determined that TEs comprise ~25% genome. The predominant class (~12% genome) was non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons, including a novel SINE family. However, this only slightly higher than content...
Genes may acquire nonsynonymous substitutions more rapidly when X-linked than autosomal, but evidence for "fast-X evolution" has been elusive. Fast-X evolution could explain the disproportionate contribution of genes to hybrid sterility and other traits. Here, we use a comparative genomic approach, with sequences 30-110 in four Drosophila species, test fast-X evolution. Specifically, 3L autosome arm D. melanogaster simulans is homologous right X chromosome pseudoobscura miranda. We executed...
Recent studies indicate that relatively few genomic regions are repeatedly involved in the evolution of Heliconius butterfly wing patterns. Although this work demonstrates a number cases where homologous loci underlie both convergent and divergent pattern change among different species, it is still unclear exactly how many variation across genus. To address question for erato, we created fifteen independent crosses utilizing four most distinct color races analyzed segregation total 1271 F2...
Despite insertions and deletions being the most common structural variants (SVs) found across genomes, not much is known about how these SVs vary within populations between closely related species, nor their significance in evolution. To address questions, we characterized evolution of indel using genome assemblies three
With over 20 parapatric races differing in their warningly colored wing patterns, the butterfly Heliconius erato provides a fascinating example of an adaptive radiation. Together with matching its co-mimic melpomene, H. also represents textbook case Müllerian mimicry, phenomenon where common warning signals are shared amongst noxious organisms. It is great interest to identify specific genes that control mimetic patterns and melpomene. To this end we have undertaken comparative mapping...
Mimicry among Heliconius butterflies provides a classic example of coevolution but unresolved relationships mimetic subspecies have prevented examination codiversification between species. We present amplified fragment length polymorphism and mtDNA datasets for the major comimetic races erato H. melpomene . The AFLP data reveal unprecedented resolution, clustering samples by geography race in both Our results show that, although co-occur, mimic each other, exhibit parallel shifts color...
Abstract Background A key to understanding the origins of species is determining evolutionary processes that drive patterns genomic divergence during speciation. New technologies enable study high-resolution across natural speciation continua, where taxa pairs with different levels reproductive isolation can be used as proxies for stages Empirical studies these continua provide valuable insights into how genomes diverge Methods We examine variation a handful regions in parapatric and...