Functional classification of the tiger moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) of Barro Colorado Island, Panama, complements ecological insights from phylogenetic classification

Lamarre, G.P. A., Hackforth, C.N., Blažek, P., Segar, S.T., Laguerre, M., Vincent, B., Perez, F., Bobadilla, R., Lopez, Y., Ramírez Silva, J.A. and Basset, Y. (2026) Functional classification of the tiger moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) of Barro Colorado Island, Panama, complements ecological insights from phylogenetic classification. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 19 (5). pp. 1297-1313. ISSN 1752-458X

Text S Segar Functional classification of the tiger moths AAM OCR Upload 3.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 7 July 2027. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

A lack of data makes it difficult to quantify interspecific variation in response traits for most species. Estimating population trends of understudied species based on data for related taxa fails to account for functional divergence among close relatives. Responses to environmental change are a product of the behavioural, physiological and morphological traits a species possesses. By considering a range of traits thought to influence species' responses to climate change, we aim to identify the most informative traits to include in future analyses of population trends. Using traits to classify species based on functional correspondence rather than taxonomic relationships more directly describes similarity or differentiation in the ecological roles and responses of different species. We compiled data for 11 functional traits and three distributional traits relevant to species' responses to climatic changes for 192 Arctiinae species, surveyed on Barro Colorado Island (Panama) from 2009 to 2019. We investigated deviations from phylogenetic niche conservatism when compared with a local phylogeny and explored how clustering in multidimensional trait space reveals inter‐clade similarity in ecological function. Our four robust functional groups (metallics, wasp‐mimics, large lightly‐coloured species and weakly‐flighted species) do not reflect strong phylogenetic clusters, indicating important deviations from phylogenetic niche conservation and emphasising the value of trait data. Colouration was the principal trait in delineation of the groups. Our functional classification demonstrates an alternative approach for predicting which species are most vulnerable to future declines, underlining that trait‐based analyses can complement local phylogenies in describing species' functional importance and responses.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Barro Colorado Island, climate change, colouration, functional classification, functional traits, phylogenetic niche conservatism, population change, tiger moth, tropical forest
Divisions:	Departments > Agriculture and Environment (from 1.08.20)
Depositing User:	Mrs Susan Howe
Date Deposited:	23 Sep 2026 15:11
Last Modified:	23 Sep 2026 15:11
URI:	https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18403

Actions (login required)

Edit Item