2001•Journal of Experimental ZoologyRequires access

Structure of a character and the evolution of butterfly eyespot patterns

Paul M. Brakefield

Abstract

All butterfly eyespots appear to be formed by a similar developmental mechanism. Thus the great diversity of patterns observed across different species of butterfly has evolved through changes in the genetic modulation of this mechanism. Our descriptions of both the development of eyespots and the genetic variation for eyespot traits in an African butterfly, Bicyclus anynana, are used here to discuss the most appropriate ways of applying the character concept to the evolution of butterfly eyespot patterns. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 291:93-104, 2001.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 48 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Key concepts: Eyespot, Butterfly, Biology, Character (mathematics), Variation (astronomy), Evolutionary biology, Mechanism (biology), Ecology