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Genome-wide macroevolutionary signatures of key innovations in butterflies colonizing new host plants

Author

Listed:
  • Rémi Allio

    (Université de Montpellier)

  • Benoit Nabholz

    (Université de Montpellier)

  • Stefan Wanke

    (Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Guillaume Chomicki

    (Durham University)

  • Oscar A. Pérez-Escobar

    (Royal Botanic Gardens)

  • Adam M. Cotton

    (Tambon Nong Kwai)

  • Anne-Laure Clamens

    (Univ. Montpellier)

  • Gaël J. Kergoat

    (Univ. Montpellier)

  • Felix A. H. Sperling

    (University of Alberta)

  • Fabien L. Condamine

    (Université de Montpellier
    University of Alberta)

Abstract

The mega-diversity of herbivorous insects is attributed to their co-evolutionary associations with plants. Despite abundant studies on insect-plant interactions, we do not know whether host-plant shifts have impacted both genomic adaptation and species diversification over geological times. We show that the antagonistic insect-plant interaction between swallowtail butterflies and the highly toxic birthworts began 55 million years ago in Beringia, followed by several major ancient host-plant shifts. This evolutionary framework provides a valuable opportunity for repeated tests of genomic signatures of macroevolutionary changes and estimation of diversification rates across their phylogeny. We find that host-plant shifts in butterflies are associated with both genome-wide adaptive molecular evolution (more genes under positive selection) and repeated bursts of speciation rates, contributing to an increase in global diversification through time. Our study links ecological changes, genome-wide adaptations and macroevolutionary consequences, lending support to the importance of ecological interactions as evolutionary drivers over long time periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Rémi Allio & Benoit Nabholz & Stefan Wanke & Guillaume Chomicki & Oscar A. Pérez-Escobar & Adam M. Cotton & Anne-Laure Clamens & Gaël J. Kergoat & Felix A. H. Sperling & Fabien L. Condamine, 2021. "Genome-wide macroevolutionary signatures of key innovations in butterflies colonizing new host plants," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-20507-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20507-3
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    Cited by:

    1. David Peris & Fabien L. Condamine, 2024. "The angiosperm radiation played a dual role in the diversification of insects and insect pollinators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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