A1 Journal article (refereed)
Geographic mosaic of selection by avian predators on hindwing warning colour in a polymorphic aposematic moth (2020)

Rönkä, K., Valkonen, J. K., Nokelainen, O., Rojas, B., Gordon, S., Burdfield‐Steel, E., & Mappes, J. (2020). Geographic mosaic of selection by avian predators on hindwing warning colour in a polymorphic aposematic moth. Ecology Letters, 23(11), 1654-1663. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13597

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Rönkä, Katja; Valkonen, Janne K.; Nokelainen, Ossi; Rojas, Bibiana; Gordon, Swanne; Burdfield‐Steel, Emily; Mappes, Johanna

Journal or series: Ecology Letters

ISSN: 1461-023X

eISSN: 1461-0248

Publication year: 2020

Publication date: 02/09/2020

Volume: 23

Issue number: 11

Pages range: 1654-1663

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13597

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71656

Web address of parallel published publication (pre-print): https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.08.032078v1

Abstract

Warning signals are predicted to develop signal monomorphism via positive frequency‐dependent selection (+FDS) albeit many aposematic systems exhibit signal polymorphism. To understand this mismatch, we conducted a large‐scale predation experiment in four countries, among which the frequencies of hindwing warning coloration of the aposematic moth, Arctia plantaginis, differ. Here we show that selection by avian predators on warning colour is predicted by local morph frequency and predator community composition. We found +FDS to be the strongest in monomorphic Scotland and lowest in polymorphic Finland, where the attack risk of moth morphs depended on the local avian community. +FDS was also found where the predator community was the least diverse (Georgia), whereas in the most diverse avian community (Estonia), hardly any models were attacked. Our results support the idea that spatial variation in predator communities alters the strength or direction of selection on warning signals, thus facilitating a geographic mosaic of selection.

Keywords: warning coloration; variation (biology); natural selection; prey; predators; wood tiger

Free keywords: aposematism; Arctia plantaginis; colour polymorphism; frequency‐dependent selection; predator–prey interactions; predators; signal convergence; signal variation; wood tiger moth

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 3