Title :

Convergent morphology and divergent phenology promote the coexistence of Morpho butterfly species

Author(s) :

Le Roy, Camille [Auteur]
Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité [ISYEB]
Wageningen University and Research [Wageningen] [WUR]
Roux, Camille [Auteur]
Évolution, Écologie et Paléontologie (Evo-Eco-Paleo) - UMR 8198 [Evo-Eco-Paléo (EEP)]
Authier, Elisabeth [Auteur]
Évolution, Écologie et Paléontologie (Evo-Eco-Paleo) - UMR 8198 [Evo-Eco-Paléo (EEP)]
Parrinello, Hugues [Auteur]
Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle - Montpellier GenomiX [IGF MGX]
Bastide, Héloïse [Auteur]
Evolution, génomes, comportement et écologie [EGCE]
Debat, Vincent [Auteur]
Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité [ISYEB]
Llaurens, Violaine [Auteur]
Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité [ISYEB]

Journal title :

Nature Communications

Pages :

7248

Publisher :

Nature Publishing Group

Publication date :

2021

ISSN :

2041-1723

HAL domain(s) :

Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]/Biologie animale/Zoologie des invertébrés
Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]/Biodiversité/Evolution [q-bio.PE]

English abstract : [en]

Abstract The coexistence of closely-related species in sympatry is puzzling because ecological niche proximity imposes strong competition and reproductive interference. A striking example is the widespread wing pattern ...
Show more >Abstract The coexistence of closely-related species in sympatry is puzzling because ecological niche proximity imposes strong competition and reproductive interference. A striking example is the widespread wing pattern convergence of several blue-banded Morpho butterfly species with overlapping ranges of distribution. Here we perform a series of field experiments using flying Morpho dummies placed in a natural habitat. We show that similarity in wing colour pattern indeed leads to interspecific territoriality and courtship among sympatric species. In spite of such behavioural interference, demographic inference from genomic data shows that sympatric closely-related Morpho species are genetically isolated. Mark-recapture experiments in the two most closely-related species unravel a strong temporal segregation in patrolling activity of males. Such divergence in phenology reduces the costs of reproductive interference while simultaneously preserving the benefits of convergence in non-reproductive traits in response to common ecological pressures. Henceforth, the evolution of multiple traits may favour species diversification in sympatry by partitioning niche in different dimensions.The coexistence of closely-related species in sympatry is puzzling because ecological niche proximity imposes strong competition and reproductive interference. A striking example is the widespread wing pattern convergence of several blue-banded Morpho butterfly species with overlapping ranges of distribution. Here we perform a series of field experiments using flying Morpho dummies placed in a natural habitat. We show that similarity in wing colour pattern indeed leads to interspecific territoriality and courtship among sympatric species. In spite of such behavioural interference, demographic inference from genomic data shows that sympatric closely-related Morpho species are genetically isolated. Mark-recapture experiments in the two most closely-related species unravel a strong temporal segregation in patrolling activity of males. Such divergence in phenology reduces the costs of reproductive interference while simultaneously preserving the benefits of convergence in non-reproductive traits in response to common ecological pressures. Henceforth, the evolution of multiple traits may favour species diversification in sympatry by partitioning niche in different dimensions.Show less >

Language :

Anglais

Peer reviewed article :

Oui

Audience :

Internationale

Popular science :

Non

ANR Project :

Biological and Cultural Diversities : Origins, Evolution, Interactions, Future
Sorbonne Universités à Paris pour l'Enseignement et la Recherche

Collections :

• Évolution, Écologie et Paléontologie (Evo Eco Paleo) - UMR 8198

Source :

Harvested from HAL