Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Development, plasticity and evolution of butterfly eyespot patterns

Nature volume 384, pages 236–242 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

The developmental and genetic bases for the formation, plasticity and diversity of eyespot patterns in butterflies are examined. Eyespot pattern mutants, regulatory gene expression, and transplants of the eyespot developmental organizer demonstrate that eyespot position, number, size and colour are determined progressively in a developmental pathway largely uncoupled from those regulating other wing-pattern elements and body structures. Species comparisons and selection experiments suggest that the evolution of eyespot patterns can occur rapidly through modulation of different stages of this pathway, and requires only single, or very few, changes in regulatory genes.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Cott, H. B. Adaptive Coloration in Animals (Methuen, London, 1940).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Endler, J. A. Natural Selection in the Wild (Princeton Univ. Press, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Nijhout, H. F. The Development and Evolution of Butterfly Wing Patterns (Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington, 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Brakefield, P. M. & Larsen, T. B. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 22, 1–12 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Brakefield, P. M. & Reitsma, N. Ecol. Entomol. 16, 291–303 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Shapiro, A. M. Evol. Biol. 9, 259–333 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kingsolver, J. G. Evolution 49, 932–941 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kingsolver, J. G. Evolution 49, 942–954 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Rountree, D. B. & Nijhout, H. F. J. Insect Physiol. 41, 987–992 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Rountree, D. B. & Nijhout, H. F. J. Insect Physiol. 41, 1141–1145 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Stearns, S. C. Bioscience 39, 436–445 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Via, S. et al. Trends Ecol. Evol. 10, 212–217 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Schlichting, C. D. & Pigliucci, M. Evol. Ecol. 9, 154–168 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Pigliucci, M. Trends Ecol. Evol. 11, 168–173 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Nijhout, H. F. Dev. Biol. 80, 276–274 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  16. French, V. & Brakefield, P. M. Dev. Biol. 168, 112–123 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Carroll, S. B. et al. Sciences 265, 109–114 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Brakefield, P. M. & French, V. Acta Biotheor. 41, 447–468 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Windig, J. J., Brakefield, P. M., Reitsma, N. & Wilson, J. G. M. Ecol. Entomol. 19, 285–298 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Brakefield, P. M. & Mazzotta, V. J. Evol. Biol. 8, 559–573 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. van Noordwijk, A. J. Bioscience 39, 453–458 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kooi, R. E., Brakefield, P. M. & Schlatman, E. G. M. Proc. Exp. Appl. Entomol. 5, 47–52 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Holloway, G. J., Brakefield, P. M. & Kofman, S. Heredity 70, 179–186 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Monteiro, A. F., Brakefield, P. M. & French, V. Evolution 48, 1147–1157 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Wright, S. Evolution and the Genetics of Populations Vol. 1, Genetics and Biometrical Foundations (Univ. Chicago Press, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Lande, R. Genetics 99, 541–553 (1981).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Cockerham, C. C. Genetics 114, 659–664 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Zeng, Z.-B., Houle, D. & Cockerham, C. C. Genetics 126, 235–247 (1990).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Koch, P. B., Brakefield, P. M. & Kesbeke, F. J. Insect Physiol. 42, 223–230 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Nijhout, H. F. Insect Hormones (Princeton Univ. Press, 1994).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Zweifel, R. G. J. Heredity 72, 238–244 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. King, R. B. Can. J. Zool. 71, 1985–1990 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Sheppard, P. M. Natural Selection and Heredity (Harper, New York, 1960).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Endler, J. A. Evol. Biol. 11, 319–364 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Evolutionary and Ecological Sciences, University of Leiden, Kaiserstraat 63, Postbus 9516, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Paul M. Brakefield, Fanja Kesbeke, Pieter J. Wijngaarden & Antónia Montelro

  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin, 1525 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA

    Julie Gates, Dave Keys & Sean B. Carroll

  3. Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK

    Antónia Montelro & Vernon French

Authors
  1. Paul M. Brakefield
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julie Gates
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dave Keys
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fanja Kesbeke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Pieter J. Wijngaarden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Antónia Montelro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Vernon French
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Sean B. Carroll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brakefield, P., Gates, J., Keys, D. et al. Development, plasticity and evolution of butterfly eyespot patterns. Nature 384, 236–242 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/384236a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/384236a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing