The genetic basis of convergent evolution in tropical butterflies

Mimicry is a striking form of convergent evolution in which multiple species converge on the same phenotype. Defensive mimicry is common across the tree of life, and particularly impressive examples come from tropical butterflies (e.g. Heliconius, ithomiine and Papilio species). Convergence may result from different species using the same alleles, the same genes, or using different genes. The genetic control of mimicry has been well studied in the Heliconius genus. But in the Neotropics, butterflies of the species-rich ithomiine tribe are thought to be the prime distasteful models in many cases of mimicry. Yet the genetic basis of mimicry in these important species is unknown. In this multidisciplinary project we will use range of techniques (tropical fieldwork in Ecuador and/or
Colombia, high-throughput sequencing, gene expression analysis and bioinformatics) to understand the genetic basis of mimicry in an important group of ithomiine butterflies. Training in these skills will be provided through the supervisory team in York/Sheffield/Paris and Project Partners in Ecuador and Colombia.