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Influences of geographic differentiation in the forewing warning signal of the wood tiger moth in Alaska

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Abstract

Aposematic organisms have warning signals advertising their unpalatability to predators, and because signal efficiency is better in higher densities, positive frequency-dependent selection is expected to select against less common signals. The wood tiger moth (Parasemia plantaginis) occurs across the Holarctic and its conspicuous hindwings serve as warning signals to predators. It also has conspicuous black and white forewing patterns that could act as warning signals, or help to hide the moth by preventing predators from seeing the outline of the moth’s body (a strategy known as disruptive coloration). In Alaska, the predominant forewing pattern changes distinctly between the regions around Fairbanks and Anchorage, suggesting local predators may maintain differences if the pattern functions as a warning signal. Alternatively, restricted gene flow along with drift could be responsible. We placed artificial moths with both local dominant and foreign forewing patterns in each of the two regions to test if predators select against the foreign forewing types, which would suggest the warning signal function of forewing patters. We also manipulated the level of disruptiveness in the forewing patterns to see if disruptiveness works in concert with the warning signal. The locally dominant forewing type was better protected in Fairbanks, but not in Anchorage where morphs were attacked equally. Manipulating the level of disruptiveness in the forewing pattern did not influence predation. Population genetic analyses from specimens caught during fieldwork showed the existence of two populations and restricted gene flow. Our results suggest that positive frequency dependent selection may be partially responsible for maintaining local signal differences, although predators seem to avoid both forewing patterns in Anchorage. Restricted gene flow between the two populations could be attributed to a combination of selection against foreign morphs in Fairbanks and physical barriers, which both likely contribute to warning signal differences in Alaska.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Jonathan Hegna for valuable assistance in carrying out the experiment and collecting specimens throughout Alaska. Atsushi Honma and Janne Valkonen provided valuable input on the design of the experiment. Derek Sikes, Kenelm Philip, James Kruse, Michelle Michaud, and Dayna Dominguez assisted in locating suitable areas for the experiment and locating suitable specimen collecting areas. We thank Eira Ihalainen, Janne Valkonen, Juan Galarza, and Swanne Gordon for comments on earlier versions of this manuscript that significantly improved its quality. This work was conducted under US Fish and Wildlife Service permit KN-11-001, a scientific permit from Alaska State Parks, permit FH11-III-002-SA from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Funding was provided by the Academy of Finland (Finnish Centre of Excellence program, project 252411) and Biological Interactions Graduate School.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland

    Robert H. Hegna & Johanna Mappes

  2. Department of Biology, Palm Beach Atlantic University, 901 S. Flagler Dr., West Palm Beach, FL, 33401, USA

    Robert H. Hegna

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  1. Robert H. Hegna
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  2. Johanna Mappes
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Correspondence to Robert H. Hegna.

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Hegna, R.H., Mappes, J. Influences of geographic differentiation in the forewing warning signal of the wood tiger moth in Alaska. Evol Ecol 28, 1003–1017 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-014-9734-7

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