Record Details
Eyespots deflect predator attack increasing fitness and promoting the evolution of phenotypic plasticity
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Eyespots deflect predator attack increasing fitness and promoting the evolution of phenotypic plasticity |
| Names |
Prudic, Kathleen L.
(creator) Stoehr, Andrew M. (creator) Wasik, Bethany R. (creator) Monteiro, Antónia (creator) |
| Date Issued | 2014-11-12 (iso8601) |
| Note | This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by the Royal Society. The published article can be found at: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/. |
| Abstract | Some eyespots are thought to deflect attack away from the vulnerable body, yet there is limited empirical evidence for this function and its adaptive advantage. Here, we demonstrate the conspicuous ventral hindwing eyespots found on Bicyclus anynana butterflies protect against invertebrate predators, specifically praying mantids. Wet season (WS) butterflies with larger, brighter eyespots were easier for mantids to detect, but more difficult to capture compared to dry season (DS) butterflies with small, dull eyespots. Mantids attacked the wing eyespots of WS butterflies more frequently resulting in greater butterfly survival and reproductive success. With a reciprocal eyespot transplant, we demonstrated the fitness benefits of eyespots were independent of butterfly behaviour. Regardless of whether the butterfly was WS or DS, large marginal eyespots pasted on the hindwings increased butterfly survival and successful oviposition during predation encounters. In previous studies, DS B. anynana experienced delayed detection by vertebrate predators, but both forms suffered low survival once detected. Our results suggest predator abundance, identity and phenology may all be important selective forces for B. anynana. Thus, reciprocal selection between invertebrate and vertebrate predators across seasons may contribute to the evolution of the B. anynana polyphenism. |
| Genre | Article |
| Access Condition | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/ |
| Topic | adaptive coloration |
| Identifier | Prudic, K. L., Stoehr, A. M., Wasik, B. R., & Monteiro, A. (2014). Eyespots deflect predator attack increasing fitness and promoting the evolution of phenotypic plasticity. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282(1798), 20141531. doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.1531 |
