A5025640579- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Data Analysis with R
- Entomological Studies and Ecology
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Climate Change Communication and Perception
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
2015-2025
LMU Klinikum
2024-2025
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
2015-2024
Urologische Klinik München
2021-2024
University of Cambridge
2010-2020
University of Oxford
2007-2017
University College London
2017
University of St Andrews
2017
Utah State University
2017
Université de Montpellier
2017
1. The ranges of many species have expanded in cool regions but contracted at warm margins response to recent climate warming, the mechanisms behind such changes remain unclear. Particular debate concerns roles direct climatic limitation vs. effects interacting explaining location low latitude or elevation range margins. 2. mountains Sierra de Guadarrama (central Spain) include both and for black-veined white butterfly, Aporia crataegi, which has disappeared from elevations since 1970s...
Adaptation to divergent ecological niches can result in speciation. Traits subject disruptive selection that also contribute non-random mating will facilitate speciation with gene flow. Such ‘magic’ or ‘multiple-effect’ traits may be widespread and important for generating biodiversity, but strong empirical evidence is still lacking. Although there putative are indeed involved assortative mating, these same under considerably weaker. Heliconius butterfly wing patterns positive...
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...
Premating behavioral isolation is increasingly recognized as an important part of ecological speciation, where divergent natural selection causes the evolution reproductive barriers. A number studies have now demonstrated that traits under also affect mate preferences. However, single species pairs only capture a snapshot speciation process, making it difficult to assess role preferences throughout entire process. Heliconius butterflies are well known for their brightly colored mimetic...
The evolution of new species is made easier when traits under divergent ecological selection are also mating cues. Such cues now considered more common than previously thought, but we still know little about the genetic changes underlying their or generally basis for assortative behaviors. Both tight physical linkage and existence large-effect preference loci will strengthen associations between behavioral barriers, promoting mating. warning patterns Heliconius melpomene H. cydno disruptive...
Mechanisms that suppress recombination are known to help maintain species barriers by preventing the breakup of coadapted gene combinations. The sympatric butterfly
Behavioral and sensory adaptations are often reflected in the differential expansion of brain components. These volumetric differences represent changes cell number, size, and/or connectivity, which may denote functional evolutionary relationships between different regions, composition behavioral ecology. Here we describe two species Heliconius butterflies, a long‐standing study system for investigating ecological adaptation speciation. We confirm previous report striking mushroom body,...
Visual preferences are important drivers of mate choice and sexual selection, but little is known how they evolve at the genetic level. In this study, we took advantage diversity bright warning patterns displayed by Heliconius butterflies, which also used during choice. Combining behavioral, population genomic, expression analyses, show that two species have evolved same for red exchanging material through hybridization. Neural regucalcin1 correlates with visual preference across...
Whether sexual selection acts as an "engine of speciation" is controversial. Some studies suggest that it promotes the evolution reproductive isolation, while others find no relationship between and species richness. However, explanatory power previous models may have been constrained because they employed coarse-scale, between-family comparisons used mating systems morphological cues surrogates for selection. In birds, obvious missing predictor song, a sexually selected trait functions in...
Ecological speciation proceeds through the accumulation of divergent traits that contribute to reproductive isolation, but in face gene flow characterize incipient species may become disassociated recombination. Heliconius butterflies are well known for bright mimetic warning patterns also used mate recognition and cause both pre- post-mating isolation between taxa. Sympatric sister taxa representing final stages speciation, such as cydno melpomene , differ ecology hybrid fertility. We...
Sex-specific pheromones are known to play an important role in butterfly courtship, and may influence both individual reproductive success isolation between species. Extensive ecological, behavioural genetic studies of Heliconius butterflies have made a substantial contribution our understanding speciation. Male pheromones, although long suspected role, received relatively little attention this genus. Here, we combine morphological, chemical analyses male the Neotropical melpomene. First,...
Theoretical models suggest that traits under divergent ecological selection, which also contribute to assortative mating, will facilitate speciation with gene flow. Evidence for these so-called "magic traits" now exists across a range of taxa. However, their importance during depend on the extent they reproductive isolation. Addressing this requires experiments determine exact cues involved as well estimates mating in wild. Heliconius butterflies are known diversity bright warning color...
The process by which species evolve can be illuminated investigating barriers that limit gene flow between taxa. Recent radiations, such as Heliconius butterflies, offer the opportunity to compare isolation pairs of taxa at different stages ecological, geographical, and phylogenetic divergence. Here, we report a comparative analysis existing novel data in order quantify strength direction isolating within well-studied clade . Our results highlight increased divergence is associated with...
Abstract During speciation across ecological gradients, diverging populations are exposed to contrasting sensory and spatial information that present new behavioural perceptive challenges. These challenges may be met by heritable or environmentally induced changes in brain function which mediate behaviour. However, few studies have investigated patterns of neural divergence at the early stages speciation, inhibiting our understanding relative importance these processes. Here, we provide a...
Significance Although previous studies highlight the importance of ecological variation in driving divergence brain morphology, whether these changes accumulate after transitions or play a significant role facilitating them is unclear. We show that divergent selection associated with microhabitat partitioning drove heritable composition and neural gene expression between sister clades Heliconius butterflies. Neuroanatomical restricted to visual structures reflect adaptations contrasting...
Plants and insects often use the same compounds for chemical communication, but not much is known about genetics of convergent evolution signals. The terpene ( E )-β-ocimene a common component floral scent also used by butterfly Heliconius melpomene as an anti-aphrodisiac pheromone. While biosynthesis terpenes has been described in plants microorganisms, few synthases (TPSs) have identified insects. Here, we study recent divergence 2 species, H . cydno , which differ presence )-β-ocimene;...
Abstract Speciation research—the scientific field focused on understanding the origin and diversity of species—has a long complex history. While relevant to one another, specific goals activities speciation researchers are highly diverse, scattered across collection different perspectives. Thus, our will benefit from efforts bridge findings diverse people who do work. In this paper, we outline two ways integrating research: (i) integration, through bringing together ideas, data, approaches;...
Abstract Shifts in host‐plant use by phytophagous insects have played a central role their diversification. Evolving host‐use strategies will reflect trade‐off between selection pressures. The ecological niche of herbivorous is partitioned along several dimensions, and if populations remain contact, recombination break down associations relevant loci. As such, genetic architecture can profoundly affect the coordinated divergence traits subsequently ability to exploit novel habitats. closely...
1. Condition-dependent traits can act as honest signals of mate quality, with fitter individuals being able to display preferred phenotypes. Nutrition is known be an important determinant individual condition, diet affect many secondary sexual traits. 2. In Heliconius butterflies, male chemical signalling plays role in female choice. Potential sex pheromone components have been identified previously, although it unclear what information they convey the female. 3. present study, effect on...
Abstract In many animals, mate choice is important for the maintenance of reproductive isolation between species. Traits and behavioral are predicted to be under strong stabilizing selection within species; however, such traits can also exhibit variation at population level driven by neutral adaptive evolutionary processes. Here, we describe patterns divergence among androconial genital chemical profiles inter‐ intraspecific levels in mimetic Heliconius butterflies. Most bouquets was found...
Abstract Many animal species remain separate not because their individuals fail to produce viable hybrids but they “choose” mate. However, we still know very little of the genetic mechanisms underlying changes in these mate preference behaviours. Heliconius butterflies display bright warning patterns, which also use recognize conspecifics. Here, couple QTL for divergence visual behaviours with population genomic and gene expression analyses neural tissue (central brain, optic lobes...
Richard M. Merrill1, Henry Arenas-Castro2, Anna F. Feller3,4, Julia Harenčár5, Matteo Rossi1, Matthew A. Streisfeld6 and Kathleen Kay5 1Faculty of Biology, Division Evolutionary LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany 2School Biological Sciences, University Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia 3Department Organismic Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA 4Arnold Arboretum Boston, 02131, 5Department Ecology California, Santa Cruz, California 95060,...