Daniel Shane Wright

Adaptation in the eye and brain contributes to species divergence in visual perception in Heliconius butterflies

This study shows how visual system adaptation in Heliconius butterflies leads to species divergence in perception and behavior due to ecological pressures.

Ecological divergence and post-eclosion brain development shape visual performance during Heliconius speciation

This study shows that visual acuity improves during early adulthood in Heliconius butterflies through neural development, despite no change in eye structure, and that this maturation coincides with reproductive behaviors and is disrupted in hybrids.

Sexual dimorphism in pollen foraging and sensory traits in Heliconius butterflies

The paper examines sex-specific foraging strategies and sensory traits in Heliconius himera butterflies, finding females carry more pollen but both sexes forage on similar plants, with males having larger eyes and females larger mushroom bodies.

Weighting of sensory cues reflect changing patterns of visual investment during ecological divergence in Heliconius butterflies.

The paper shows that Heliconius butterflies with greater visual neural investment preferentially use visual cues over olfactory cues in conflicting sensory environments.