The evolution and biogeography of mimetic Elymnias butterflies in Southeast Asia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

自然选择可以在物种形成中发挥重要作用，但很少有研究探讨模仿如何加速多样化，特别是在地理位置复杂的地区分布的类群。 凤蝶属是一种很少被研究的拟态蝴蝶，它们在颜色、图案和大小上都有很大的差异，因为不同的物种经常模仿不同的模型。该属43个物种的进化历史将使用来自多个遗传标记的DNA序列来推断，以解决几个关键问题，包括：1）相似的模仿翅膀模式进化收敛？ 2)东南亚复杂的地理环境在物种形成中扮演了什么角色？ 3)单一陆块内的发散是否与模拟颜色模式的变化有关？4)性二态拟态进化了多次吗？由于其物种的丰富性和极端的翅膀模式多样性，Enias有望成为研究快速进化变化的无与伦比的分类群。在这项研究中产生的系统发育树将用于框架未来的比较研究，包括基因组学驱动的方法，以确定翼型差异的遗传基础。本研究中获得的标本、组织和数据将保存在公众可访问的博物馆和数据库中。该项目将支持研究生和本科生，包括来自科学代表性不足的群体的学生。

Natural selection can play an important role in speciation, but few studies examine how mimicry may accelerate diversification, particularly in taxa distributed across a geographically complex region. The genus Elymnias is a little-studied group of mimetic butterflies that vary dramatically in color, pattern, and size because different species frequently mimic dramatically different models. The evolutionary history of the 43 species in this genus will be inferred using DNA sequences from multiple genetic markers to address several key questions, including: 1) Have similar mimetic wing patterns evolved convergently? 2) What role has Southeast Asia's complex geography played in speciation? 3) Is divergence within a single landmass associated with shifts in mimetic color pattern? 4) Has sexually dimorphic mimicry evolved multiple times?Because of its species richness and extreme wing pattern diversity, Elymnias promises to be an unparalleled taxon for studying rapid evolutionary change. The phylogenetic tree generated in this study will be used to frame future comparative studies, including genomics-driven approaches to identifying the genetic basis of wing pattern differences. The specimens, tissues, and data obtained in this study will be deposited in publicly accessible museums and databases. This project will support graduate and undergraduate students, including students from groups underrepresented in science.