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

How is retaining structure used, How is retaining structure used? A ret...

How is retaining structure used? A retaining wall helps in maintaining the surface of the ground at different elevations on either side of the structure. If the retaining wall

How much dopamine do need add from a stock, A cat has just arrived to the v...

A cat has just arrived to the veterinary clinic with low blood pressure. The cat weighs 5 kg, and as the on call Vet you want to use a bag of saline to prepare a dopamine drip for

Non-rapid-eye-movement sleep, Stage 1 sleep: As an individual becomes drows...

Stage 1 sleep: As an individual becomes drowsy, and enters stage 1, alpha wave decreases and theta waves appear. Theta waves with a frequency of about 6 to 8 cycles per second are

Explain some physiological changes during pregnancy, Explain some Physiolog...

Explain some Physiological Changes during Pregnancy? A whole new life begins at conception. Organ systems develop rapidly and nutrition plays many supportive roles. Pregnancy f

Diversty of living organisms, write down the division of cryptogamae and p...

write down the division of cryptogamae and phanerogamae

Why rna was the first genetic material, Why does scientist think that RNA w...

Why does scientist think that RNA was the first genetic material?

Karyokinesis, At the beginning of the process in an animal cell, the partit...

At the beginning of the process in an animal cell, the partition of the centriole takes place, which has been duplicated during Interphase but were in the same centrosome. Bipol

Cytoplasm plays the most important pathogenetic role, The formation of surf...

The formation of surface blebs caused by ischemia reflects in part plasma membrane injury, but also a sign of cytoplasmic injury. Which filamentous component of the cytoplasm plays

What is fixative, Question 1 What is fixative? Discuss the characteristics...

Question 1 What is fixative? Discuss the characteristics of a good fixative. What is the importance of using a good fixative for tissue processing? Question 2 What is embe

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