Date of Award
Summer 8-2020
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Program
Biological Sciences
Department
Biological Sciences
Major Professor
Dr. Carla Penz
Second Advisor
Dr. Philip DeVries
Abstract
Ventral hind wing eyespots are prominent pattern elements in Brassolini butterflies, likely functioning in predator-prey interactions and reproductive activities. Caligo and Opsiphanes differ in male mate-seeking behaviors and it has been suggested that Caligo females use the male cua1 eyespot as a mate-locating cue, but Opsiphanes females do not seem to do so. We predict Caligo males should have larger eyespots than congeneric females, but the sexes would not differ in eyespot size in Opsiphanes. Our analyses supported both these predictions. Displacing the eyespot to the center of the wing makes eyespots more conspicuous, we asked if eyespot position and size covaried across the Brassolini phylogeny. While we did observe a positive relationship, we found these two variables contained significant phylogenetic signal. Our study suggests that the cua1 eyespot performs multiple functions in Brassolini and might be evolving under natural and sexual selection.
Recommended Citation
Crees, Logan, "Hind Wing Eyespots of Brassolini Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae): Evolutionary Diversification and Functions in Anti-predator Defense and Mating Behavior" (2020). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2804.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2804
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.