NEWS

ABOUT

The Gamboa Heliconius Lab is mainly interested in the genetics of adaptation and speciation.

How do new species form?

How does adaptive variation arise and spread?

How is morphological variation created through development and modified by natural selection?

Is evolution predictable?

Our research has mainly focused on convergent evolution of wing pattern development in Heliconius butterflies throughout the New World tropics.

Carlos Arias

Post Doc studying the evolutionary processes and mechanisms driving and constraining the origin of new species by using population genomics and bioinformatic approaches.

Carolina Concha

Post Doc studying the genetic control and regulation of Heliconius wing color patterns to understand the genomic basis of evolutionary change.

Cruz Batista

Research assistant in charge of facilitating the field studies of incoming students and Post Docs.

Daniel Romero

Research assistant rearing butterflies, collecting digital data and helping with genetic experiments.

Guillaume Ghisbain

Post Doc interested in understanding the genomic mechanisms involved in generating the outstanding phenotypic convergence between Heliconius co-mimics.

Hubert Szczygiel

Research intern studying patterns in the evolutionary response of reef fishes to climate change by looking at genetic differences between species across the Isthmus and the Pacific upwelling gradient.

James Ogilvie

PhD student interested in the evolution of Heliconius color patterns and the ecological pressures that underlie local adaptation and polymorphic mimicry.

Jessie Foley

PhD student investigating Heliconius' extended lifespans with the aim of establishing this group as a new insect model for longevity and aging studies.

Joe Hanly

Post Doc and Smithsonian Biodiversity Genomics Fellow studying the evolutionary developmental genetics of Heliconius wing patterns using single cell-omics methods.

Josie Mcpherson

Research intern working on a project about the delayed senescence of Heliconius butterflies, and the possible relationship of this with their unique pollen diet.

Laura Hebberecht

PhD student interested in the developmental and genomic mechanisms that facilitate adaptive innovation and aim to describe the developmental peculiarities of Heliconius expanded mushroom bodies.

Luca Livraghi

Post Doc studying the evolution of gene networks and how they control a Heliconius' diverse wing patterns by characterizing the alleles driving morphological evolution across species.

Melanie Heckwolf

Post Doc Fellow working on speciation in sympatric coral reef fishes with a focus on functional divergence and post-zygotic barriers.

Oscar Paneso

Insectaries manager overseeing all aspects of the butterfly facilities, greenhouses, and field collection trips.

Owen Mcmillan

Staff scientist interested in the genetic basis of adaptive variation, with an emphasis on the convergent evolution of Heliconius wing pattern development throughout the New World tropics.

Rémi Mauxion

Research manager in charge of coordinating the team and organizing the facilities to keep research projects running smoothly, as well as the facilities for outreach projects.

Sol Parra

Research intern working on a species comparison project on Nymphalidae mimetic species to determine the function of specific wing pattern genes previously described in Heliconius.

Sylvia Garza

Intern working on developing and coordinating outreach projects, running the lab's social media presence, and helping create educational content.

TEAM

PUBLICATIONS

2022

Ficarrotta V, Hanly JJ, Loh LS, Francescutti CM, Ren A, Tunström K, … & Martin, A. A genetic switch for male UV iridescence in an incipient species pair of sulphur butterflies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(3).

Heryanto C, Hanly JJ, Mazo-Vargas A, Tendolkar A, Martin A. Mapping and CRISPR homology-directed repair of a recessive white eye mutation in Plodia moths. iScience, 103885.

Dell’Aglio DD, McMillan WO, Montgomery SH. Shifting balances in the weighting of sensory modalities are predicted by divergence in brain morphology in incipient species of Heliconius butterflies. Animal Behaviour, 185, 83-90.

Hanly JJ, Livraghi L, Heryanto C, McMillan WO, Jiggins CD, Gilbert LE, Martin A. A large deletion at the cortex locus eliminates butterfly wing patterning. G3 Genes| Genomes| Genetics.

Hench K, Helmkampf M, McMillan WO, Puebla O. Rapid radiation in a highly diverse marine environment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(4).

Dell’Aglio DD, Mena S, Mauxion R, McMillan WO, Montgomery S. Divergence in Heliconius flight behaviour is associated with local adaptation to different forest structures. Journal of Animal Ecology.

2022 Lepinars

Bi-weekly Zoom seminars featuring Lepidoptera researchers at 10AM Panama time (EST).

Contact Joana Meier, Gabriela Montejo-Kovacevich or Luca Livraghi if you wish to be added to the seminar email list.

To view all previous Lepinars click here.

RESOURCES

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CONTACT

Heliconius insectaries

Morrow Blvd & Pratt Parkway

Gamboa, Panama

Research inquires: mcmillano@si.edu

Outreach inquires: gamboaheliconius@gmail.com