Differentiation in putative male sex pheromone components across and within populations of the African butterfly Bicyclus anynana as a potential driver of reproductive isolation

Bacquet, P. M. B. et al. (2016) Differentiation in putative male sex pheromone components across and within populations of the African butterfly Bicyclus anynana as a potential driver of reproductive isolation. Ecology and Evolution, 6(17), pp. 6064-6084. (doi: 10.1002/ece3.2298) (PMID:27648226) (PMCID:PMC5016632)

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Abstract

Sexual traits are often the most divergent characters among closely related species, suggesting an important role of sexual traits in speciation. However, to prove this, we need to show that sexual trait differences accumulate before or during the speciation process, rather than being a consequence of it. Here, we contrast patterns of divergence among putative male sex pheromone (pMSP) composition and the genetic structure inferred from variation in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 and nuclear CAD loci in the African butterfly Bicyclus anynana (Butler, 1879) to determine whether the evolution of “pheromonal dialects” occurs before or after the differentiation process. We observed differences in abundance of some shared pMSP components as well as differences in the composition of the pMSP among B. anynana populations. In addition, B. anynana individuals from Kenya displayed differences in the pMSP composition within a single population that appeared not associated with genetic differences. These differences in pMSP composition both between and within B. anynana populations were as large as those found between different Bicyclus species. Our results suggest that “pheromonal dialects” evolved within and among populations of B. anynana and may therefore act as precursors of an ongoing speciation process.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Brattstrom, Dr Oskar
Authors: Bacquet, P. M. B., Jong, M. A., Brattström, O., Wang, H.‐L., Molleman, F., Heuskin, S., Lognay, G., Löfstedt, C., Brakefield, P. M., Vanderpoorten, A., and Nieberding, C. M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
Journal Name:Ecology and Evolution
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:2045-7758
ISSN (Online):2045-7758
Published Online:29 July 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Ecology and Evolution 6(17): 6064-6084
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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