Alkaloid defenses of co-mimics in a putative Müllerian mimetic radiation

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Ralph A Saporito (Creator)

Adam MM Stuckert (Creator)

Kyle Summers (Creator)

Pablo J Venegas (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Extracted text; Background Polytypism in aposematic species is unlikely according to theory, but commonly seen in nature. Ranitomeya imitator is a poison frog species exhibiting polytypic mimicry of three congeneric model species (R. fantastica, R. summersi, and two morphs of R. variabilis) across four allopatric populations (a "mimetic radiation"). In order to investigate chemical defenses in this system, a key prediction of Müllerian mimicry, we analyzed the alkaloids of both models and mimics from four allopatric populations. Results In this study we demonstrate distinct differences in alkaloid profiles between co-mimetic species within allopatric populations. We further demonstrate that R. imitator has a greater number of distinct alkaloid types than the model species and more total alkaloids in all but one population. Conclusions Given that R. imitator is the more abundant species in these populations, R. imitator is likely driving the majority of predator-learned avoidance in these complexes. The success of Ranitomeya imitator as a putative advergent mimic may be a direct result of differences in alkaloid sequestration. Furthermore, we propose that automimicry within co-mimetic species is an important avenue of research.

Additional Information

Publication

Other

BMC Evolutionary Biology; 14: p. 76-76

Language: English

Date: 2014

Keywords

Polytypism, Müllerian mimicry, Aposematism, Alkaloids, Ranitomeya imitator, Dendrobatids

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