JOURNAL ARTICLE

Comparing the roles of climate, predation and phylogeography in driving wing colour variation in Ranchman's tiger moth (Arctia virginalis).

  • Published In: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2023, v. 138, n. 2. P. 204 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Pepi, Adam; Hemstrom, William; Dang, Audrey; Beck, Claire; Beyerle, Fiona 3 of 3

Abstract

This article investigates the environmental and genetic factors influencing wing melanism in the Ranchman's tiger moth (Arctia virginalis) across 23 populations in the western USA. Contrary to previous findings linking darker pigmentation to colder temperatures, the study found wing melanism to be positively associated with higher mean temperatures and solar radiation, and negatively associated with humidity. Predation experiments indicated that local predators preferentially attacked the more common morph, suggesting predation is unlikely to drive melanism patterns. Genetic analyses revealed that wing melanism is moderately heritable (heritability ~0.30) and likely polygenic, with population genetic structure not closely aligned with melanism variation, implying selective environmental pressures rather than genetic drift shape this trait.

Additional Information

  • Source:Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2023/02, Vol. 138, Issue 2, p204
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Biology
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0024-4066
  • DOI:10.1093/biolinnean/blac138
  • Accession Number:161878310
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Biological Journal of the Linnean Society is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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