Riccardo Papa

Ancient inversion polymorphisms are locally adaptive in a widespread butterfly species

This study identifies ancient chromosomal inversions in the zebra longwing butterfly that are associated with local adaptation to environmental stressors.

WntA expression and wing transcriptomics illuminate the evolution of stripe patterns in skipper butterflies

This study shows WntA expression and gene expression patterns in skipper butterflies are homologous to the Central Symmetry System in nymphalid butterflies, revealing shared developmental mechanisms for wing stripe patterns.

Polygenic basis of incipient reproductive isolation in hybridizing populations is revealed by pangenomic and epigenetic divergence

The paper reveals widespread genomic and epigenetic divergence in Heliconius erato populations, showing polygenic barriers to gene flow rather than few major-effect loci.

A butterfly pan-genome reveals a large amount of structural variation underlies the evolution of chromatin accessibility

The paper characterizes structural variation in Heliconius butterfly genomes and links it to chromatin accessibility and cis-regulatory elements.

Multiple loci control eyespot number variation on the hindwings of Bicyclus anynana butterflies

The paper investigates the genetic basis of eyespot number variation in Bicyclus anynana butterflies, finding that multiple loci, not single master regulators, influence this trait.

The genetic basis of hindwing eyespot number variation in Bicyclus anynana butterflies

The paper investigates the genetic basis of hindwing eyespot number variation in Bicyclus anynana butterflies, finding moderate heritability and multiple loci associated with eyespot number.

Patternize: An R Package For Quantifying Color Pattern Variation

patternize quantifies color pattern variation across organisms using image alignment and segmentation, enabling comparison and analysis through PCA and heatmaps.

Population genomics of parallel hybrid zones in the mimetic butterflies, H. melpomene and H. erato

The paper analyzes parallel hybrid zones in Heliconius butterflies using genome-wide markers to identify genomic regions associated with color pattern divergence and detects new cryptic populations.