Morph frequencies, sex ratios and infections in Danaus chrysippus populations in Rwanda

Gilbert Ndatimana, Laban Kayitete*, Simon Martin, David A.S. Smith, Thacien Hagenimana, Adrien Nkundimana, Simon Muhayimana, Jonas Antony, Constantin Sibomana, Jean de Dieu Uwizelimana, Kennedy Saitoti Omufwoko, Chantal Nyirakanani, Ian J. Gordon

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The African Queen butterfly (Danaus chrysippus) is noted for its colour pattern polymorphism despite its aposematic and chemically defended lifestyle and for its infection with a male-killing endosymbiont (Spiroplasma). The polymorphism is largely restricted to east and central Africa where three different colour forms meet and interbreed in a large contact or hybrid zone. The primary objective of this study is to present recent data on the polymorphism, sex ratio and the incidence of male killing in D. chrysippus populations in Rwanda. We also report previously unpublished data from a random sample collected in 1914 in Bujumbura in Burundi and on the differential effects of weather on males and females in Ghana from 1972 to 1974. We sampled butterflies using butterfly nets and either marked, recorded and released them or kept specimens for subsequent examination. We used PCR/microscopy on the preserved specimens to detect Spiroplasma and the presence of a protozoan parasite (Ophryocystis). Our findings suggest that Rwanda lies close to the western edge of the joint distribution of both Spiroplasma and the polymorphism. Further biogeographical studies are recommended to test the hypothesis that male killing is restricted to the contact zone in which polymorphism is commonly observed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)633-640
Number of pages11
JournalAfrican Journal of Ecology
Volume60
Issue number3
Early online date15 May 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2022

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • African monarch
  • colour pattern polymorphism
  • hybrid zone
  • male-killing endosymbiont

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Morph frequencies, sex ratios and infections in Danaus chrysippus populations in Rwanda'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this