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Unexpected layers of cryptic diversity in wood white Leptidea butterflies

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Listed:
  • Vlad Dincă

    (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-UPF)
    Departament de Genètica i Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

  • Vladimir A. Lukhtanov

    (Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Science, Universitetskaya nab. 1
    St Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9)

  • Gerard Talavera

    (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-UPF)
    Departament de Genètica i Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

  • Roger Vila

    (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-UPF)
    Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23)

Abstract

Uncovering cryptic biodiversity is essential for understanding evolutionary processes and patterns of ecosystem functioning, as well as for nature conservation. As European butterflies are arguably the best-studied group of invertebrates in the world, the discovery of a cryptic species, twenty years ago, within the common wood white Leptidea sinapis was a significant event, and these butterflies have become a model to study speciation. Here we show that the so-called 'sibling' Leptidea actually consist of three species. The new species can be discriminated on the basis of either DNA or karyological data. Such an unexpected discovery challenges our current knowledge on biodiversity, exemplifying how a widespread species can remain unnoticed even within an intensely studied natural model system for speciation.

Suggested Citation

  • Vlad Dincă & Vladimir A. Lukhtanov & Gerard Talavera & Roger Vila, 2011. "Unexpected layers of cryptic diversity in wood white Leptidea butterflies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1329
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1329
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