Butterflies that explore and colonize new habitats are genetically different from cautious cousins
Monday, March 28, 2011 - 16:30
in Biology & Nature
Descendants of "exploratory" butterflies that colonize new habitats differ genetically from their more cautious cousins, discovered scientists. The research has revealed some of the genetic bases for traits that provide an advantage to butterflies that found new populations in previously unoccupied habitat patches. The results have potentially broad importance in understanding natural selection.