W. O. McMillan

Adaptive divergence in the eyes of Heliconius butterflies likely contributes to pre- and post mating isolation

The paper examines eye morphology divergence between Heliconius species and their hybrids, finding adaptive differences and visual system disruption in hybrids.

Divergent warning patterns influence male and female mating behaviours in a tropical butterfly

The paper examines how divergent warning coloration patterns influence mating behaviors in male and female Heliconius butterflies, finding that both sexes prefer conspecific coloration but only male coloration affects mating success.

Adaptive introgression of a visual preference gene

The paper shows two Heliconius butterfly species evolved similar visual mating preferences through hybridization, linking a gene to behavior.

Enhanced long-term memory and increased mushroom body plasticity in Heliconius butterflies

This study shows Heliconius butterflies have enhanced long-term memory and greater mushroom body plasticity compared to related species, linked to synaptic changes and developmental responses to learning.

Reversal learning of visual cues in Heliconiini butterflies

This study tests reversal learning in Heliconius and related butterflies to assess if enlarged mushroom bodies enhance cognitive flexibility, finding no difference in performance compared to other Heliconiini species.

Patterns of host plant use do not explain mushroom body expansion in Heliconiini butterflies

The paper tests if host plant morphology drives mushroom body size in Heliconiini butterflies and finds no significant association.

Genomic evidence reveals three sequential W-autosome fusions in Heliconius butterflies

The paper identifies three sequential W-autosome fusions in Heliconius butterflies, revealing their role in adaptive radiation and sex chromosome evolution.

Subtle introgression footprints at the end of the speciation continuum in a clade of Heliconius butterflies

The paper examines gene flow and speciation in Heliconius butterflies, finding limited introgression and stronger genomic signatures in mimetic populations.

Rapid expansion and visual specialization of learning and memory centers in Heliconiini butterflies

The paper identifies rapid expansion and specialization of neural structures in Heliconiini butterflies linked to cognitive improvements and foraging behaviors.

Evolutionary dynamics of genome size and content during the adaptive radiation of Heliconiini butterflies

This study generates and analyzes 63 Heliconiini butterfly genomes to explore evolutionary patterns and genomic basis of traits during adaptive radiation.

Repeated genetic adaptation to high altitude in two tropical butterflies

This study identifies genetic regions under selection in two tropical butterflies adapted to high altitude, showing that standing variation and introgression from high-altitude specialists contribute to parallel adaptation.

The conspicuousness of the toxic Heliconius butterflies across time and habitat

This study examines how Heliconius butterfly warning colors vary in contrast across habitats and times of day, finding greater variation in butterfly vision than avian vision.

The gut microbiome stability of a butterflyfish is disrupted on severely degraded Caribbean coral reefs

The study shows that gut microbiome stability in a butterflyfish declines on severely degraded Caribbean coral reefs, with reduced Endozoicomonas and increased anaerobic bacteria.

Heliconius butterflies host characteristic and phylogenetically structured adult-stage microbiomes

This study characterizes the adult-stage microbiomes of Heliconius butterflies, finding they are phylogenetically structured and influenced by host traits, not pollen-feeding.

Neural divergence and hybrid disruption between ecologically isolated Heliconius butterflies

This study shows that neural divergence and hybrid disruption occur in Heliconius butterflies due to environmental transitions, contributing to reproductive isolation.

Heliconiini butterflies can learn time-dependent reward associations

This study shows Heliconius butterflies can learn time-dependent reward associations, with this ability also present in a related non-pollen feeding genus.

Clustering of loci controlling species differences in male chemical bouquets of sympatric Heliconius butterflies

The paper investigates the genetic architecture of male pheromone compound production in Heliconius butterflies, finding significant QTL clustering on specific chromosomes.

Cortex cis-regulatory switches establish scale colour identity and pattern diversity in Heliconius

The paper identifies cis-regulatory regions controlled by cortex that determine scale color identity and pattern diversity in Heliconius butterflies through CRISPR perturbations and chromatin accessibility analysis.

Haplotype tagging reveals parallel formation of hybrid races in two butterfly species

Haplotagging reveals parallel formation of a novel hybrid race in two Heliconius butterfly species through divergent haplotypes at major wing pattern loci.

Selection and gene flow define polygenic barriers between incipient butterfly species

This study investigates genomic divergence and introgression between incipient butterfly species, finding that polygenic barriers and selection, rather than isolation, drive genome-wide patterns of divergence.

Phenotypic plasticity in chemical defence allows butterflies to diversify host use strategies

This study shows that Heliconius butterflies adjust their cyanogenic compound biosynthesis based on host plant availability, allowing them to diversify host use strategies with fitness trade-offs.

Visual mate preference evolution during butterfly speciation is linked to neural processing genes

The paper identifies genes linked to visual mate preference divergence in Heliconius butterflies through QTL analysis and gene expression studies in neural tissues.

The visual ecology of a color polymorphic reef fish: the role of aggressive mimicry.

The paper tests aggressive mimicry in Hypoplectrus hamlets by analyzing visual models based on prey sensory ecology and finds support for one mimic-model relationship but not another.

Evolutionary and ecological processes influencing chemical defense variation in an aposematic and mimetic Heliconius butterfly

This study investigates intraspecific variation in cyanogenic toxicity in Heliconius erato, finding substantial variation and potential for adaptive evolution despite limited dietary influence.

A major locus controls a biologically active pheromone component in Heliconius melpomene

This study identifies a major genetic locus controlling octadecanal production in Heliconius melpomene, a biologically active pheromone component involved in mate choice.

Environmental DNA survey captures patterns of fish and invertebrate diversity across a tropical seascape

The paper uses eDNA surveys to assess fish and invertebrate diversity across a tropical Caribbean bay, finding significant community differences driven by habitat specialists and wave tolerance.

Species specificity and intraspecific variation in the chemical profiles of Heliconius butterflies across a large geographic range

The paper examines chemical profile divergence in Heliconius butterflies, finding strong interspecific differences and some intraspecific variation, with implications for species recognition.

A novel terpene synthase produces an anti-aphrodisiac pheromone in the butterfly Heliconius melpomene

The paper identifies a novel terpene synthase in Heliconius melpomene that synthesizes (E)-β-ocimene, an anti-aphrodisiac pheromone, showing it evolved independently from plant and other insect TPSs.

Conservation and flexibility in the gene regulatory landscape of Heliconiine butterfly wings

The paper investigates gene regulatory landscapes in Heliconius butterfly wings, identifying conserved and variable factors regulating wing pattern genes.

Genomic architecture and introgression shape a butterfly radiation

The paper uses a low-cost genome assembly strategy to study Heliconius butterfly evolution, finding that introgression, not incomplete lineage sorting, explains most non-canonical genetic histories.