Meeting Abstract
Butterfly wing color patterns exhibit arguably some of the most diverse morphological traits found in nature. Color patterns are a composite of three symmetry systems: basal, central and border, each with a species-specific shape and location on the wing. Each of these systems is comprised of morphological components that are thought to be under different and independent developmental regulation. This raises an intriguing question: how does the color pattern scale with variation in wing size? Does it scale as a single coordinated unit or do individual pattern elements show independent scaling relationships? It seems reasonable to assume that in wings of different sizes the distances between the signaling centers that control the patterns will be different, and this would affect the positioning of the pattern elements. In this study, we seek to uncover the relationship between the size and position of individual pattern elements and the overall size of the wing. We analyzed the color patterns of Junonia coenia forewings and hindwings from animals reared on different diet qualities that induced substantial variation in overall size of the wing. We will describe trends of differential scaling of pattern elements across the wing as well as the scaling of the signaling sources that induce the large eyespots that characterize the color pattern of this species. To conclude, we will discuss the implications of our findings for the development and evolution of pattern element size, shape and position in the wing.
