Positive frequency-dependent selection on warning color in alpine leaf beetles
- Borer, Matthias Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Noort, Tom Van Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Rahier, Martine Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Naisbit, Russell E. Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland - Unit of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
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06.12.2010
Published in:
- Evolution. - 2010, vol. 64, no. 12, p. 3629–3633
English
Müller's theory of warning color and mimicry, despite forming a textbook example of frequency-dependent selection, has rarely been demonstrated in the wild. This may be largely due to the practical and statistical difficulties of measuring natural selection on mobile prey species. Here we demonstrate that this selection acts in alpine beetle communities by using tethered beetles exposed to natural predators. Oreina gloriosa leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) possess chemical defense in the form of cardenolides, accompanied by what appears to be warning color in bright metallic blues and greens. Individuals that match the locally predominant color morph have increased survival, with odds of week-long survival increased by a factor of 1.67 over those that do not match. This corresponds to selection of 13% against foreign morphs. Such selection, acting in concert with variation in community composition, could be responsible for geographic variation in warning color. However, in the face of this purifying selection, the within-population polymorphism seen in many Oreina species remains paradoxical.
- Faculty
- Faculté des sciences et de médecine
- Department
- Département de Biologie
- Language
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- English
- Classification
- Ecology and biodeversity
- License
- License undefined
- Identifiers
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- RERO DOC 28397
- DOI 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2010.01137.x
- Persistent URL
- https://folia.unifr.ch/unifr/documents/302359
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