Phylogenomics and the Developmental Genetics and Evolution of Butterfly Colour Patterns

进化发育生物学的一个目标是了解导致物种差异的发育机制。蝴蝶颜色图案是发育遗传学和进化的一个有吸引力的模式系统，因为它们是可变的，由简单的定义明确的二维亚单位组成，并经过选择。朱尼亚蝴蝶属是一个重要的颜色模式系统，但几乎所有的数据都来自一个种，即朱尼亚蝴蝶，没有考虑到该属其他蝴蝶的变异和进化背景。这项研究计划的长期目标是(1)以朱诺属的42+种为模式系统，了解基因组变化如何创造新的表型变异。杂交种在该属的部分地区广泛存在，因此(2)我们还将利用Junia来研究杂交和渐渗在多样化和适应中的作用，对比不同杂交频率的原因和影响。最后，(3)我们将以蝴蝶和高海拔昆虫线粒体为例，研究杂交、导入和适应在多样化和适应性进化中的作用。短期目标包括：(1)对菊科植物进行系统发育分析，建立一个全面的种水平系统发育树，以重建该属成员之间的表型进化。(2)在比较新旧大陆朱尼亚属物种遗传变异的生物地理模式时，重点放在研究较少的旧大陆分支，显示出与在新大陆观察到的初步证据相似的杂交证据。(3)重建侵袭、扩散、杂交和渗入新大陆的时间进程和路线。(4)评估有丝分裂基因组和完整的核rRNA重复序列作为下一代DNA条形码的候选。(5)包括高海拔物种和低海拔物种在内的蝴蝶、蛾和蜻蜓分支中线粒体对高海拔适应的特征模式。(6)在检验中进化理论的预测时，通过对包含有和没有季节多物性的物种的蝴蝶支系进行系统基因组重建，并比较不同谱系之间的比率，具有季节多物性的分类群将具有更高的物种形成率和增加的表型多样性。意义：该项目将蝴蝶颜色图案的基因组学和发育遗传学与其生态和进化背景相结合，提供对进化新颖性的遗传基础以及这些过程对生物多样性产生的贡献的见解。更广泛的影响：该计划在Evo-Devo、基因组学、进化生物学和昆虫学方面培训HQP。HQP在这些领域开发新技术并提供令人兴奋的结果，具备基础和应用研究、医疗保健和教育等职业的基本技能。

A goal of evolutionary developmental biology is to understand developmental mechanisms responsible for species differences. Butterfly color patterns are an attractive model system for developmental genetics and evolution because they are variable, consist of simple well-defined 2-dimensional subunits, and undergo selection. The butterfly genus Junonia is an important model system for colour pattern development, but nearly all data comes from one species, J. coenia without considering the variation and evolutionary context of the rest of the genus. The long-term goals of this research program are (1) to understand how genomic changes create new phenotypic variation using the 42+ species of the genus Junonia as a model system. Rampant hybridization occurs in portions of the genus, so (2) we will also use Junonia to examine the role of hybridization and introgression in diversification and adaptation, contrasting the causes and effects of different frequencies of hybridization. Finally (3) we will examine the roles of hybridization, introgression, and adaptation in diversification and adaptive evolution, using butterflies and high elevation insect mitochondria as case studies. Short-term objectives include: (1) Conducting a phylogenomic analysis of Junonia to create a comprehensive species-level phylogenetic tree to reconstruct phenotypic evolution among members of this genus. (2) Comparing biogeographic patterns of genetic variation in New and Old World Junonia species, focused on poorly studied Old World clades showing preliminary evidence of hybridization reminiscent of that observed in the New World. (3) Reconstructing the time course and routes of invasion, dispersal, hybridization, and introgression of the J. villida lineage (as well as possibly other Junonia lineages) into the New World. (4) Evaluating mitogenomes and complete nuclear rRNA repeats as candidates for next generation DNA barcodes. (5) Characterizing patterns of mitochondrial adaptation to high elevation in butterfly, moth, and caddisfly clades including both high and low elevation species. (6) Testing a prediction of mesoevolutionary theory, that taxa with seasonal polyphenism will have elevated speciation rates and increased phenotypic diversity, by conducting phylogenomic reconstruction of butterfly clades containing species both with and without seasonal polyphenism and comparing rates between lineages. Significance: This program unifies the genomics and developmental genetics of butterfly colour patterns with their ecological and evolutionary context, providing insights into the genetic basis of evolutionary novelties and the contributions of these processes to generating biodiversity. Broader impacts: This program trains HQP in evo-devo, genomics, and evolutionary biology, and entomology. Developing new techniques and providing exciting results in these fields, HQP are equipped with essential skills for careers in basic and applied research, healthcare, and education.