Deflective and intimidating eyespots: a comparative study of eyespot size and position in Junonia butterflies

Ecology and Evolution
Ullasa KodandaramaiahBirgitta S Tullberg

Abstract

Eyespots are conspicuous circular features found on the wings of several lepidopteran insects. Two prominent hypotheses have been put forth explaining their function in an antipredatory role. The deflection hypothesis posits that eyespots enhance survival in direct physical encounters with predators by deflecting attacks away from vital parts of the body, whereas the intimidation hypothesis posits that eyespots are advantageous by scaring away a potential predator before an attack. In the light of these two hypotheses, we investigated the evolution of eyespot size and its interaction with position and number within a phylogenetic context in a group of butterflies belonging to the genus Junonia. We found that larger eyespots tend to be found individually, rather than in serial dispositions. Larger size and conspicuousness make intimidating eyespots more effective, and thus, we suggest that our results support an intimidation function in some species of Junonia with solitary eyespots. Our results also show that smaller eyespots in Junonia are located closer to the wing margin, thus supporting predictions of the deflection hypothesis. The interplay between size, position, and arrangement of eyespots in relation to antipredation an...Continue Reading

References

Apr 27, 2002·Nature·Patricia BeldadePaul M Brakefield
Jan 22, 2004·Bioinformatics·Emmanuel ParadisKorbinian Strimmer
Apr 3, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Anne LyytinenJohanna Mappes
Jul 19, 2005·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Adrian VallinChrister Wiklund
Jul 29, 2005·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Kendra A Robertson, Antónia Monteiro
Oct 14, 2005·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Martin Stevens
Feb 8, 2007·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Darrell J Kemp
Apr 15, 2009·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Jeffrey C OliverAntónia Monteiro
Apr 22, 2010·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·Patrik LindenforsC L Nunn
Dec 18, 2012·Behavioral Ecology : Official Journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology·Martin OlofssonChrister Wiklund

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 30, 2015·Evolution & Development·Roohollah Abbasi, Jeffrey M Marcus
Apr 17, 2015·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Ritwika Mukherjee, Ullasa Kodandaramaiah
Jun 25, 2015·PloS One·Yoshikazu Ohno, Joji M Otaki
Nov 29, 2017·Scientific Reports·Roohollah Abbasi, Jeffrey M Marcus
May 24, 2017·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Tim Caro, William L Allen
Aug 14, 2020·Ecology and Evolution·Christopher R HemingsonDavid R Bellwood
Feb 19, 2021·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Christopher R HemingsonDavid R Bellwood

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Phytools
Mesquite
APE

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Karin Kjernsmo, Sami Merilaita
Behavioral Ecology : Official Journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology
Martin OlofssonChrister Wiklund
Communicative & Integrative Biology
Martial Depczynski, Monica Gagliano
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Christos C IoannouGraeme D Ruxton
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved