Sammanfattning

Understanding the mechanisms underlying species distributions and coexistence is both a priority and a challenge for biodiversity hotspots such as the Neotropics. Here, we highlight that Mullerian mimicry, where defended prey species display similar warning signals, is key to the maintenance of biodiversity in the c. 400 species of the Neotropical butterfly tribe Ithomiini (Nymphalidae: Danainae). We show that mimicry drives large-scale spatial association among phenotypically similar species, providing new empirical evidence for the validity of Muller's model at a macroecological scale. Additionally, we show that mimetic interactions drive the evolutionary convergence of species climatic niche, thereby strengthening the co-occurrence of co-mimetic species. This study provides new insights into the importance of mutualistic interactions in shaping both niche evolution and species assemblages at large spatial scales. Critically, in the context of climate change, our results highlight the vulnerability to extinction cascades of such adaptively assembled communities tied by positive interactions.

Nyckelord

biodiversity hotspot; climatic niche; community composition; evolutionary convergence; extinction cascade; Mullerian mimicry; mutualistic interactions; Neotropical butterflies; spatial co-occurrence; species assemblages

Publicerad i

Ecology Letters
2023, Volym: 26, nummer: 6, sidor: 843-857
Utgivare: WILEY

SLU författare

• Chazot, Nicolas

  • Institutionen för ekologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Ekologi


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14198

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/121909