Consistent seasonal polyphenism in male genitalia of three Leptidea butterfly species (Lepidoptera : Pieridae)
(2019) In Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 126(1). p.80-94- Abstract
Insect genitalia are important for species identification and taxonomy and are key traits for the evolution of reproductive isolation through their 'lock-And-key mechanism'. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated intraspecific variation and the impact of seasonal environmental variation on genital morphology. We used geometric morphometric analysis to quantify male genital morphology within and among the three taxa in the Leptidea sinapis cryptic species complex (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). We focused on the potential presence of seasonal polyphenism, i.e. consistent differences among temporally separated generations. As predicted, our analysis revealed that male genitalia differed in size, shape and form (the joint effect of size and... (More)
Insect genitalia are important for species identification and taxonomy and are key traits for the evolution of reproductive isolation through their 'lock-And-key mechanism'. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated intraspecific variation and the impact of seasonal environmental variation on genital morphology. We used geometric morphometric analysis to quantify male genital morphology within and among the three taxa in the Leptidea sinapis cryptic species complex (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). We focused on the potential presence of seasonal polyphenism, i.e. consistent differences among temporally separated generations. As predicted, our analysis revealed that male genitalia differed in size, shape and form (the joint effect of size and shape) among species. More surprisingly, all species harboured consistent genital variation between the spring and summer generations. The interspecific variation in genital structures could function as a mechanical reproductive barrier, although contemporary populations of these butterflies do not engage in heterospecific matings. We suggest that the smaller, but significant, genital differences among conspecific generations provide an opportunity to test empirically whether a seasonal polyphenism in genital morphology could generate raw material for the build-up of reproductive isolation at an early stage of speciation. Collectively, our results provide evidence demonstrating that insect genitalia can indeed harbour ample intraspecific variation.
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- author
- Fumi, Michele and Friberg, Magne LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2019
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- allometry, cryptic species, diapause, direct development, geometric morphometrics, Leptidea juvernica, Leptidea reali, Leptidea sinapis, lock-And-key hypothesis, reproductive isolation
- in
- Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
- volume
- 126
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 15 pages
- publisher
- Oxford University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85061636312
- ISSN
- 0024-4066
- DOI
- 10.1093/biolinnean/bly159
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2e187cec-ad62-4d0d-8816-87db304e9fb3
- date added to LUP
- 2019-03-04 09:36:51
- date last changed
- 2024-03-02 21:08:55
@article{2e187cec-ad62-4d0d-8816-87db304e9fb3,
abstract = {{<p>Insect genitalia are important for species identification and taxonomy and are key traits for the evolution of reproductive isolation through their 'lock-And-key mechanism'. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated intraspecific variation and the impact of seasonal environmental variation on genital morphology. We used geometric morphometric analysis to quantify male genital morphology within and among the three taxa in the Leptidea sinapis cryptic species complex (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). We focused on the potential presence of seasonal polyphenism, i.e. consistent differences among temporally separated generations. As predicted, our analysis revealed that male genitalia differed in size, shape and form (the joint effect of size and shape) among species. More surprisingly, all species harboured consistent genital variation between the spring and summer generations. The interspecific variation in genital structures could function as a mechanical reproductive barrier, although contemporary populations of these butterflies do not engage in heterospecific matings. We suggest that the smaller, but significant, genital differences among conspecific generations provide an opportunity to test empirically whether a seasonal polyphenism in genital morphology could generate raw material for the build-up of reproductive isolation at an early stage of speciation. Collectively, our results provide evidence demonstrating that insect genitalia can indeed harbour ample intraspecific variation.</p>}},
author = {{Fumi, Michele and Friberg, Magne}},
issn = {{0024-4066}},
keywords = {{allometry; cryptic species; diapause; direct development; geometric morphometrics; Leptidea juvernica; Leptidea reali; Leptidea sinapis; lock-And-key hypothesis; reproductive isolation}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{80--94}},
publisher = {{Oxford University Press}},
series = {{Biological Journal of the Linnean Society}},
title = {{Consistent seasonal polyphenism in male genitalia of three Leptidea butterfly species (Lepidoptera : Pieridae)}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/bly159}},
doi = {{10.1093/biolinnean/bly159}},
volume = {{126}},
year = {{2019}},
}