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Investigating the role of predation as an evolutionary driver of elaborate traits in insects
Presented by: Juliette Rubin, McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
Abstract: Complex, conspicuous traits can be found across animal taxa and sensory systems. While these elaborate traits have commonly been considered in the context of sexual selection, another major driving force is likely predation. Using staged predator-prey experiments and phylogenetic analyses, I explore the anti-predator function and evolution of elaborate traits along multiple sensory channels. In this talk, I will present my work investigating the defensive role of elaborate traits in the lepidopteran families Saturniidae and Sphingidae against bats and birds, and discuss how these examples may provide insight for the evolution of elaborate traits more broadly.
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