Abstract
Mimics should not exist without their models, yet often they do. In the system involving queen and viceroy butterflies, the viceroy is both mimic and co-model depending on the local abundance of the model, the queen. Here, we integrate population surveys, chemical analyses, and predator behavior assays to demonstrate how mimics may persist in locations with low-model abundance. As the queen becomes less locally abundant, the viceroy becomes more chemically defended and unpalatable to predators. However, the observed changes in viceroy chemical defense and palatability are not attributable to differing host plant chemical defense profiles. Our results suggest that mimetic viceroy populations are maintained at localities of low-model abundance through an increase in their toxicity. Sharing the burden of predator education in some places but not others may also lower the fitness cost of warning signals thereby supporting the origin and maintenance of aposematism.
Highlights
Mimics should not exist without their models, yet often they do
There are several predicted outcomes when a more profitable mimetic species experiences a reduction in model abundance: mimics may remain, and at low abundance, especially when predation is weak[9,10]; mimics could go extinct due to intense predation invited by their conspicuousness[11]; or alternative defensive strategies such as crypsis or disruptive coloration could evolve in the palatable mimetic species[5,12]
We integrate the results of population surveys, chemical analyses, and predator behavior assays to assess the influence of queen abundance on the dynamics of this mimicry system
Summary
Mimics should not exist without their models, yet often they do. In the system involving queen and viceroy butterflies, the viceroy is both mimic and co-model depending on the local abundance of the model, the queen. We demonstrate viceroys occur in high abundance in northern Florida, where queen abundance is low, correlating with the rarity of the queen’s primary larval host plant, a result contrary to predictions of mimicry theory. Exploring explanations for this contrary result, we demonstrate a striking spatial relationship between viceroy chemical defense and queen abundance: viceroys have greater chemical defense and lower palatability in areas of lowqueen abundance. These observations support a previously unexplored consequence of a decrease in model abundance— mimics themselves may become more unprofitable to predators in regions where mimics shoulder most of the cost of predator education
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