I had collected some seasonally varied morphs and population data of 3 Satyrid (such as Melanities leda) and 1 Lycanid Butterfly (Chilades pandava) for my undergraduate research project. I classified the specimens into wet (WSF) and dry seasonal form (DSF). However, I failed to compare the specimens of DSF due to lack of any scaling idea. The DSF specimens are varied mostly in the wing's brown to blackish spots than WSF. So, i eager to know any scaling idea to mark out the specimens for comparing those for statistical analysis. I had captured many photos of the varied forms also. So, any idea to compare the photos based on their wing spots will also be congratulated.
Hello Tanvir:
Chilades pandava in Central India have environmentally induced alternative seasonal forms, which is known as seasonal polyphenism. There is a paper by Ashis Tiple et. al 2009. that illustrates all the seasonal forms of Chilades pandava. The pattern of color of the wings changes, but morphologically they are the same species.
https://www.academia.edu/1491827/Population_dynamics_and_seasonal_polyphenism_of_Chilades_pandava_butterfly_Lycaenidae_in_central_India
About Melanites leda this species also shows polyphenism (dry and wet seasonal forms) in this paper by Brakefield 1984 shows all the seasonal forms.
https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/11011/029_009.pdf?sequence=1
Regards,
Luis Miguel
Thank you, Dr. Luis for your answer and articles.
I just edited my question. I want to compare the changes in wing coloration of the specimens of same species of a season. So, i hoped any idea or method to quantify the changes in wing coloration rather than describing their features for each one in paper and for analysis.
Hi Tanvir:
You can do a quantitative genetic analysis. Identify the different phenotypes of each species.
The phenotypic value (P) of an individual is the combined result of its genotype (G) and the effects of the environment (E):
P = G + E
Genotype refers to the total genetic variation. This includes not only the effects of nuclear genes, but also the effects of mitochondrial genes and the interactions between genes. Genotypic variation can be partitioned into additive and dominance variation:
Additive variation represents the cumulative effect of individual loci, therefore the overall mean is equal to the summed contribution of these loci.
Dominance variation represents interaction between alleles. If a trait is controlled by a dominant allele, then both homozygous and heterozygous individuals will display the same phenotypic value.
Quantitatively varying traits are also affected by the environment (E). This can be further subdivided into pure environmental effect and interaction between genes and the environment. In other words, how different genotypes respond in different environments. Interaction (I) between different genes can modify the observed phenotypes. This is called epistasis, or non-allelic interaction, distinguishing it from dominance. So, the equation above can be better written as:
P = A + D + E + I
In order to identify variation and its source in a given population, this equation is better described below. The total phenotypic variation (V) of a population is the sum of the variation in additive (A), dominance(D), gene-interaction (I), environmental (E) and gene-environment interaction (GE) effects:
VP = VA + VD + VI + VE + VGE
If this does not solve your question you can rear the species and study phenotypic variation exposing the larvae to different temperatures under laboratory conditions, a phytotron can be useful for this experiment.
It occurs to me that it is possible to quantify changes color for each spot or group of spots on the back and undersides of the wings of butterflies.
You can analyse color photographs from analysis of the three (RGB) components that make up the color. The scale is from 0 to 255 for each color.
Proper analysis of animal coloration is typically complicated. I suggest you to contact Adrian Surmacki from Adam Mickiewicz University - he's a very helpful person with years of practice on animal coloration. As long as he is not in field collecting data i'm sure he will give you answers you are looking for quickly.
All the best.
Hi Tanvir,
The color in animals is a multifactorial event and complicated for use as comparative variable between species. It is not recommendable use this characteristic in taxonomic keys, for exemple. The color is not a stable character in species.
I think so that Michal Czyz' recomendation is one better.
Greetings.
Strictly from the 'mechanical' point of view: if you can study 'steady' specimens (e.g. mounted collection specimens) under a constant source of light, then you could use photographs. As R. Jordana suggested you could measure R/G/B values as well as their relative positions in the wings rather easily with, for intance the program ImageJ (free)...
Dear Tanvir,
currently I study colour patterns of Eurema butterflies (Pieridae) and also of Satyrinae. Concerning the former I quantified the ratio of light versus dark wing areas with ImageJ (also mentioned by Enrique). This is easily done by measuring total wing area and determination of light or dark areas, dependent of what is more feasible. So you get a measure of 'melanization'. The method is only suitable when colour patterns are less complex but I think can be suitable for many Satyrinae. For more complex patterns, I currently develop a method also by means of ImageJ.
Best wishes, Peter
A reference: ‘The biology of butterflies’ (Academic, 1984), edited by R. I. Vane-Wright & P. R. Ackery. And here is an author whose publications I think it would be worthwhile to consult: Arthur M. Shapiro (University of California, Davis, USA).
The relationship between the colors of butterflies' wings and the environmental location, whether it is the climate in the dry and humid climate
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