Original title: Ecology and evolution of functional phenotypical traits of Neotropical Skipper Butterflies: constraints, benefits, and anti-predator adaptations.
Authors: LINKE, Daniel
Document type: Doctoral theses
Year: 2025
Language: eng
Abstract: Within the present thesis I study the evolution of anti-predator defences of Neotropical skipper butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Eudaminae). Anti-predator defences evolve to counter predation pressure and encompass a range of strategies (e.g., crypsis, aposematism, or evasiveness). Under strong predation pressure, defensive signals in multiple species may converge, leading to mimetic relationships sharing cues that can signal unprofitability. Within Eudaminae, multiple phenotypic traits (e.g., dorsal iridescence, hindwing tails or creamy bands on the upper forewing) have converged repeatedly across the phylogeny and are thought to be involved in signalling unprofitability due to evasive behaviour. By testing whether these potential cues can be learnt and generalised when associated with evasive behaviour by na?ve avian predators, we have shown that learning of wing shape and colour cues happens readily and fast. We quantified the palatability spectrum of skippers in feeding experiments and uncovered previously unknown secondary defences, resulting in an added layer of unprofitability. Furthermore, we quantified the anti-predation efficiency of hindwing tails in aviaries installed in a tropical rainforest locality and found attack reluctance by immature birds and repeated unsuccessful attacks from adults. Finally, we studied the morphological evolution of Eudamina wing shapes and found that hindwing tails exert significant constraints on forewing shape evolution, are associated with medium-sized species and are more commonly expressed in tropical environments, which host highly diverse predator communities. In total, all our results support the repeated evolution of wing phenotypes across Eudaminae skippers due to strong predatory selection. Skippers offer a valuable yet underexplored study group expressing unusual anti-predator combinations (i.e., evasiveness, deflective structures and unpalatability) and stand in strong contrast to commonly studied aposematic and mimetic butterfly groups.
Keywords: anti-predator defences; avoidence; convergent evolution; evasive mimicry; Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Eudaminae: Eudamina; predator-prey interaction; profitability; wing shapes
Citation: LINKE, Daniel. Ecology and evolution of functional phenotypical traits of Neotropical Skipper Butterflies: constraints, benefits, and anti-predator adaptations.. České Budějovice, 2025. disertační práce (Ph.D.). JIHOČESKÁ UNIVERZITA V ČESKÝCH BUDĚJOVICÍCH. Přírodovědecká fakulta

Institution: University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (web)
Document availability information: Fulltext is available in the Digital Repository of University of South Bohemia.
Original record: http://www.jcu.cz/vskp/66139

Permalink: http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-694415


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Universities and colleges > Public universities > University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
Academic theses (ETDs) > Doctoral theses