Amazonian butterflies, Biology

Assignment Help:

The Amazon rainforest in South America is a biodiverse ecosystem. There are large numbers of plant and animal species making up the food web, including over 350 species of predatory insectivorous birds. In one small area of the rainforest, about 15 km2, there are 60 different species of Ithomiine butterflies.

These 60 species of butterflies have only eight different colour pattern phenotypes. Each of the different phenotypes is found within a particular habitat within this small area. Therefore the different phenotypes are rarely seen together. Scientists initially assumed that each of these phenotypes indicated that there were eight different species of butterflies. Genetic analysis has disproved this, and the resulting phylogeny is shown opposite. It shows, for example, that there are 11 species of butterfly with the ‘eurimedia' phenotype.

Evidence shows that each species of butterfly lays its eggs on only one variety of plant, which is different to other species of butterfly with the same phenotype found in their habitat. The caterpillars feed exclusively on this host plant. However, adult butterflies drink nectar from a range of different flowers which may be in common with other butterflies of the same phenotype. Butterflies sharing the same colour pattern display Mullerian and /or Batesian mimicry.


Related Discussions:- Amazonian butterflies

Parasitology, how trematodes/nematodes adapt to their parasitic mode of fee...

how trematodes/nematodes adapt to their parasitic mode of feeding

Endocrine glands that regulate sexual activity in males, Q. What are the en...

Q. What are the endocrine glands that regulate sexual activity in males? How does this regulation work and what are the involved hormones? In males the sexual activity is regul

What is optic chiasma, What is Optic Chiasma  This structure makes upto...

What is Optic Chiasma  This structure makes upto portion of the anterior inferior floor of the third ventricle. It is shaped like a flat oblong bridge and connects the optic ne

Hypomagnesaemic tetany , Hypomagnesaemic tetany (grass tetany, grass stagge...

Hypomagnesaemic tetany (grass tetany, grass staggers, lactation tetany) Hypomagnesaemic tetany is a multifactorial complex metabolic disorder, which is  characterized by reduct

.phylum pisces, wt is an air bladder and its function wt is catadromous and...

wt is an air bladder and its function wt is catadromous and anadromus migration

Zoonotic diseases-kyasanur forest disease, Kyasanur forest disease Kya...

Kyasanur forest disease Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) was first recognized in 1957 as a new disease entity affecting man and monkeys in Karnataka, India. The disease is named

Haemocyanin - respiratory pigments, Haemocyanin - Respiratory Pigments ...

Haemocyanin - Respiratory Pigments This pigment is found in several arthropods and molluscs. Haemocyanins do not consist of haee groups. The metal they consist of is copper, w

What are the coverings of the body, Q. Besides the skin what are the other ...

Q. Besides the skin what are the other coverings of the body? Besides the skin there are other covering tissues made of epithelium over other tissue layers. They are the tissue

What are the main water properties, What are the main water properties that...

What are the main water properties that make water special for life? The water properties that make water biologically significant are molecular polarity, thermal stability (el

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd