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Visual mate preference evolution during butterfly speciation is linked to neural processing genes
- Source :
- Rossi, M, Hausmann, A, Thurman, T, Montgomery, S H, Papa, R, Jiggins, C, McMillan, O & Merrill, R 2020, ' Visual mate preference evolution during butterfly speciation is linked to neural processing genes ', Nature Communications, vol. 11, no. 4763, 4763 (2020) . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18609-z, Nature Communications, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2020)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Divergence in mating behaviors plays a major role during speciation, but we know little about the genetic mechanisms underlying the evolution of such traits. Reproductive isolation between the Neotropical butterflies Heliconius melpomene and H. cydno depends on shifts in mimetic warning patterns, which also act as mating cues. Preferences for conspecific warning patterns have a strong genetic component, but unlike the warning pattern cues, the exact genes responsible remain unknown. Here, we reduce the number of candidate genes associated with a large effect QTL for changes in visual mate preference from 200 to just 6. First, we confirm that genomic regions previously associated with male courtship modulate preference behaviors, rather than other traits that may influence courtship time. We then investigate gene expression in the brains of H. melpomene, H. cydno, and their hybrids, across development. We identify two genes, regucalcin2 and an ionotropic glutamate receptor, that are differentially expressed both in species and hybrid comparisons, in a manner consistent with known patterns of dominance. We also find substitutions in the protein-coding regions of 4 genes predicted to affect protein function. These six candidates are located in regions resistant to interspecific gene flow, as expected for genes that contribute to reproductive isolation. Our candidates have been implicated in key components of neural signaling, suggesting shifts in visual mating preference do not rely on primary photoreceptor genes, but instead involve changes in visual integration or processing. Such genetic changes would allow mate preference evolution without altering perception of the wider environment. Significance statement Many species remain separate not because they fail to produce viable hybrids but because they “choose” not to mate. Although these changes in behavior can be hardwired in the genome, we know little about the specific genes involved. Heliconius butterflies display a striking diversity of warning color patterns, which they use as cues to recognize conspecifics. We analyze a genomic region associated with changes in these visual behaviors in two Heliconius species. We couple quantitative trait locus (QTL) studies with gene expression and population genomic analyses to identify candidate genes associated with these visual preferences. This is an important step towards understanding how behavioral differences, crucial to speciation, are generated both during development and across evolutionary time.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
Male
Candidate gene
genetic structures
Genome, Insect
631/208/1515
Genes, Insect
01 natural sciences
Gene flow
Heliconius
Wings, Animal
lcsh:Science
631/181/759
0303 health sciences
education.field_of_study
biology
article
behavioural ecology
Reproductive isolation
Heliconius melpomene
631/158/856
Sympatry
Sympatric speciation
Visual Perception
Female
Butterflies
Gene Flow
Genetic Speciation
Science
Population
Quantitative Trait Loci
38/90
Quantitative trait locus
evolutionary genetics
010603 evolutionary biology
38
38/91
03 medical and health sciences
Species Specificity
Animals
education
behavioural genetics
030304 developmental biology
Mating Preference, Animal
biology.organism_classification
Gene Expression Regulation
631/181/2474
speciation
Evolutionary biology
Mutation
lcsh:Q
sense organs
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Rossi, M, Hausmann, A, Thurman, T, Montgomery, S H, Papa, R, Jiggins, C, McMillan, O & Merrill, R 2020, ' Visual mate preference evolution during butterfly speciation is linked to neural processing genes ', Nature Communications, vol. 11, no. 4763, 4763 (2020) . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18609-z, Nature Communications, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2020)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....377c28ae3d0e3394b68647687514a2a0