Predictability of temporal variation in climate and the evolution of seasonal polyphenism in tropical butterfly communities

Halali, S., Halali, D., Barlow, H. S., Molleman, F., Kodandaramaiah, U., Brakefield, P. M. and Brattström, O. (2021) Predictability of temporal variation in climate and the evolution of seasonal polyphenism in tropical butterfly communities. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 34(9), pp. 1362-1375. (doi: 10.1111/jeb.13895) (PMID:34173293)

Abstract

Phenotypic plasticity in heterogeneous environments can provide tight environment-phenotype matching. However, the prerequisite is a reliable environmental cue(s) that enables organisms to use current environmental information to induce the development of a phenotype with high fitness in a forthcoming environment. Here, we quantify predictability in the timing of precipitation and temperature change to examine how this is associated with seasonal polyphenism in tropical Mycalesina butterflies. Seasonal precipitation in the tropics typically results in distinct selective environments, the wet and dry seasons, and changes in temperature can be a major environmental cue. We sampled communities of Mycalesina butterflies from two seasonal locations and one aseasonal location. Quantifying environmental predictability using wavelet analysis and Colwell's indices confirmed a strong periodicity of precipitation over a 12-month period at both seasonal locations compared to the aseasonal one. However, temperature seasonality and periodicity differed between the two seasonal locations. We further show that: (a) most females from both seasonal locations synchronize their reproduction with the seasons by breeding in the wet season but arresting reproduction in the dry season. In contrast, all species breed throughout the year in the aseasonal location and (b) species from the seasonal locations, but not those from the aseasonal location, exhibited polyphenism in wing pattern traits (eyespot size). We conclude that seasonal precipitation and its predictability are primary factors shaping the evolution of polyphenism in Mycalesina butterflies, and populations or species secondarily evolve local adaptations for cue use that depend on the local variation in the environment.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Brattstrom, Dr Oskar
• Authors: Halali, S., Halali, D., Barlow, H. S., Molleman, F., Kodandaramaiah, U., Brakefield, P. M., and Brattström, O.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Journal of Evolutionary Biology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1010-061X
• ISSN (Online): 1420-9101
• Published Online: 26 June 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Evolutionary Biology 34(9): 1362-1375
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
• Data DOI: 10.5061/dryad.q2bvq83k3