Bicyclus anynana as a model system
Bicyclus anynana is a small, seasonally polyphenic african butterfly. The seasonal morphs differ dramatically in wing color pattern; the wet-season forms have large, conspicuous, concentric rings (eyespots) whereas these markings are reduced or nearly absent in dry-season individuals. This striking polyphenism is what initially attracted Paul Brakefield to study these butterflies and to develop them as a model system. Since those early days, research on B. anynana has expanded to include a very broad range of topics, including life history evolution (offspring size, clutch size, senescence and ageing, body size, development and growth rate, etc.), the evolution of morphologies (focusing on wing color pattern and wing size/shape as focal traits), and behaviors, including mate choice. A common thread running through much of this work is how trade-offs or other constraints limit the evolution of complex phenotypes. In addition to Bicyclus' interesting biology, it is an excellent organism for study because of it's size, rapid generation time, good response to surgical manipulations, ease of rearing in the lab, and natural behavior in small, experimental enclosures.

I am a member of an international group of researchers conducting this research. We are also working to develop the butterfly Bicyclus anynana as a premier model for integrative studies of the evolution of complex traits. Brakefield is the charismatic leader of this group; our members collaborate directly on projects, share mutant or artificially selected Bicyclus lineages, exchange technologies, and co-ordinate our Bicyclus-related research programs so they are complementary. The Brakefield group maintains a Bicyclus Page you should check for detailed information on the current status of resource development for the system.

Across labs, we use a variety of experimental techniques, including a wide range of physiological and surgical manipulations, artificial selection, developmental genetics, and genomics. Collectively, much of this work falls under the umbrella of 'evo-devo', and is described at the Brakefield group page here, as are some of the tools and resources available for use in the group. Primary members of the group are listed below. My research on Bicyclus focuses on the evolution of relative wing size and wing shape; specific projects are described under the topics listed at the left.

Group members and their primary Bicyclus research focus. Click on the image for their webpage
Paul Brakefield

University of Leiden

Evolution of seasonal polyphenism, genetics of eyespot patterns, and pretty much everything else ...
Bas Zwaan

University of Leiden

Endocrinology of body size evolution; evolution and mechanisms of ageing.
Patricia Beldade

University of Leiden

Genetic basis of adaptation, focusing on the evolution and development of wing color patterns.
Cerisse Allen

University of Leiden

Modularity and constraint in the evolution of wing color patterns.
Antonia Monteiro

Yale University

The role of natural selection and developmental mechanisms in generating phylogenetic pattern in wing color elements.

Vernon French

University of Edinburgh

The molecular basis of butterfly eyespot specification.
Klaus Fischer

Universität Bayreuth

The evolution of egg size and clutch size in B. anynana.

Tony Frankino

Princeton University

Evolution of morphological scaling relationships and wing shape; functional consequences of wing shape variation.