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Visual mate preference evolution during butterfly speciation is linked to neural processing genes.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Hausmann, Alexander E  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6558-6290
Montgomery, Stephen H 

Abstract

Many animal species remain separate not because their individuals fail to produce viable hybrids but because they "choose" not to mate. However, we still know very little of the genetic mechanisms underlying changes in these mate preference behaviours. Heliconius butterflies display bright warning patterns, which they also use to recognize conspecifics. Here, we couple QTL for divergence in visual preference behaviours with population genomic and gene expression analyses of neural tissue (central brain, optic lobes and ommatidia) across development in two sympatric Heliconius species. Within a region containing 200 genes, we identify five genes that are strongly associated with divergent visual preferences. Three of these have previously been implicated in key components of neural signalling (specifically an ionotropic glutamate receptor and two regucalcins), and overall our candidates suggest shifts in behaviour involve changes in visual integration or processing. This would allow preference evolution without altering perception of the wider environment.

Description

Keywords

Animals, Butterflies, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Gene Flow, Genes, Insect, Genetic Speciation, Genome, Insect, Male, Mating Preference, Animal, Mutation, Quantitative Trait Loci, Species Specificity, Sympatry, Visual Perception, Wings, Animal

Journal Title

Nat Commun

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723
2041-1723

Volume Title

11

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
European Research Council (339873)
Natural Environment Research Council (NE/N014936/1)