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

Describe three ways that rna differs from dna, Describe three ways that RNA...

Describe three ways that RNA differs from DNA. RNA is single stranded; DNA is double stranded all of the codons from the deletion point to the end of the transcript would be s

Head - structure of the sperm, Head - Structure of the Sperm It exhib...

Head - Structure of the Sperm It exhibits a diversity of shapes in different animal groups, e.g., spherical (teleost fishes), rod or lance shaped (amphibians), spirally twist

Explain gonorrhea, Gonorrhea Single doses of cefixime (Suprax) orally ...

Gonorrhea Single doses of cefixime (Suprax) orally or ceftriaxone  (Rocephin)  intramuscularly (IM) are highly effective for uncomplicated anogenital or pharyngeal infection,

What is gymnosperms explain its dividions, What is Gymnosperms explain its ...

What is Gymnosperms explain its dividions? Gymnosperms are one of the two major groups of plants that bear seeds. The other group, the Angiosperms (flowering plants), differ in

Effects of solid waste pollution, The improper handling and transfer of the...

The improper handling and transfer of the solid wastes results in various health and environmental hazards, such as: 1.      Spoilage of landscape: Municipal wastes heap up o

Evolutionary changes in humans, Evolutionary changes that occurred in human...

Evolutionary changes that occurred in humans are - Development of prominent chin. Increase in cranial capacity. Reduction of brow-ridges. Development of speech. Developme

Taxonomy, what arachnid is beneficial

what arachnid is beneficial

What are the hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex, Q. What are the hormo...

Q. What are the hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex? What are their respective functions? The cortical portion of the adrenals secretes hormones of the corticoid (or cortic

Five kingdom classification, discuss the merits nd demerits of five kingdom...

discuss the merits nd demerits of five kingdom classification.

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