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Abstract
Many aposematic species show variation in their color patterns even though selection by predators is expected to stabilize warning signals toward a common phenotype. Warning signal variability can be explained by trade-offs with other functions of coloration, such as thermoregulation, that may constrain warning signal expression by favoring darker individuals. Here, we investigated the effect of temperature on warning signal expression in aposematic Amata nigriceps moths that vary in their black and orange wing patterns. We sampled moths from two flight seasons that differed in the environmental temperatures and also reared different families under controlled conditions at three different temperatures. Against our prediction that lower developmental temperatures would reduce the warning signal size of the adult moths, we found no effect of temperature on warning signal expression in either wild or laboratory-reared moths. Instead, we found sex- and population-level differences in wing patterns. Our rearing experiment indicated that ~70% of the variability in the trait is genetic but understanding what signaling and non-signaling functions of wing coloration maintain the genetic variation requires further work. Our results emphasize the importance of considering both genetic and plastic components of warning signal expression when studying intraspecific variation in aposematic species.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e9111 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-11 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Ecology and Evolution |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 7 |
Early online date | 17 Jul 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.Keywords
- antipredator
- aposematism
- heritability
- Lepidoptera
- thermal melanism
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Dive into the research topics of 'Additive genetic variation, but not temperature, influences warning signal expression in Amata nigriceps moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiinae)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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ARC- DP: Don't eat me! Tracking warning signals across a variable predator landscape
Herberstein, M., Hart, N., Rowland, H., Umbers, K. & Mappes, R.
14/03/19 → 13/03/22
Project: Other