Selection on male sex pheromone composition contributes to butterfly reproductive isolation

Bacquet, P.M.B., Brattström, O. , Wang, H.-L., Allen, C.E., Löfstedt, C., Brakefield, P.M. and Nieberding, C.M. (2015) Selection on male sex pheromone composition contributes to butterfly reproductive isolation. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences, 282(1804), 20142734. (doi: 10.1098/rspb.2014.2734) (PMID:25740889) (PMCID:PMC4375863)

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Abstract

Selection can facilitate diversification by inducing character displacement in mate choice traits that reduce the probability of maladaptive mating between lineages. Although reproductive character displacement (RCD) has been demonstrated in two-taxa case studies, the frequency of this process in nature is still debated. Moreover, studies have focused primarily on visual and acoustic traits, despite the fact that chemical communication is probably the most common means of species recognition. Here, we showed in a large, mostly sympatric, butterfly genus, a strong pattern of recurrent RCD for predicted male sex pheromone composition, but not for visual mate choice traits. Our results suggest that RCD is not anecdotal, and that selection for divergence in male sex pheromone composition contributed to reproductive isolation within the Bicyclus genus. We propose that selection may target olfactory mate choice traits as a more common sensory modality to ensure reproductive isolation among diverging lineages than previously envisaged.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Brattstrom, Dr Oskar
Authors: Bacquet, P.M.B., Brattström, O., Wang, H.-L., Allen, C.E., Löfstedt, C., Brakefield, P.M., and Nieberding, C.M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
Journal Name:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences
Publisher:The Royal Society
ISSN:0962-8452
ISSN (Online):1471-2954

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