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Chromosomal rearrangements maintain a polymorphic supergene controlling butterfly mimicry

Author

Listed:
  • Mathieu Joron

    (CNRS UMR 7205, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP50, 45 Rue Buffon
    Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King’s Buildings
    Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Postbus 9505)

  • Lise Frezal

    (CNRS UMR 7205, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP50, 45 Rue Buffon)

  • Robert T. Jones

    (Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn)

  • Nicola L. Chamberlain

    (Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn)

  • Siu F. Lee

    (Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne)

  • Christoph R. Haag

    (Ecology and Evolution, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10)

  • Annabel Whibley

    (CNRS UMR 7205, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP50, 45 Rue Buffon)

  • Michel Becuwe

    (Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King’s Buildings)

  • Simon W. Baxter

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Laura Ferguson

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Paul A. Wilkinson

    (Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn)

  • Camilo Salazar

    (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, NAOS island, Causeway Amador)

  • Claire Davidson

    (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton)

  • Richard Clark

    (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton)

  • Michael A. Quail

    (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton)

  • Helen Beasley

    (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton)

  • Rebecca Glithero

    (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton)

  • Christine Lloyd

    (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton)

  • Sarah Sims

    (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton)

  • Matthew C. Jones

    (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton)

  • Jane Rogers

    (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton)

  • Chris D. Jiggins

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Richard H. ffrench-Constant

    (Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn)

Abstract

Evolution of supergenes The toxic butterfly Heliconius numata, found in forests across South America, mimics the wing patterns of several species of another family of toxic butterflies, Melinaea sp., in order to deter predators more effectively. This example of Müllerian mimicry is under the control of a classic 'supergene', a tight gene cluster usually inherited as a single unit. H. numata is particularly adept at mimicry, able to copy as many as seven different wing patterns. A study of the individual wing-pattern morphs in H. numata shows that different genomic rearrangements at the single supergene P locus tighten the genetic linkage between loci that are otherwise free to recombine in other closely related species. The resulting supergene acts as a simple switch that once thrown, selects which one of a range of complex adaptive phenotypes the butterfly displays.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathieu Joron & Lise Frezal & Robert T. Jones & Nicola L. Chamberlain & Siu F. Lee & Christoph R. Haag & Annabel Whibley & Michel Becuwe & Simon W. Baxter & Laura Ferguson & Paul A. Wilkinson & Camilo, 2011. "Chromosomal rearrangements maintain a polymorphic supergene controlling butterfly mimicry," Nature, Nature, vol. 477(7363), pages 203-206, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:477:y:2011:i:7363:d:10.1038_nature10341
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10341
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    Cited by:

    1. Max Lundberg & Alexander Mackintosh & Anna Petri & Staffan Bensch, 2023. "Inversions maintain differences between migratory phenotypes of a songbird," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.

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