The Mechanism for Mimicry: Instant Biosemiotic Selection or Gradual Darwinian Fine-Tuning Selection?

作     者：Alexander, V. N. 

作者机构：Dactyl Fdn 64 Grand St New York NY 10013 USA US Dept State Fulbright Specialist Program Bur Educ & Cultural Affairs Washington DC 20520 USA 

出 版 物：《BIOSEMIOTICS》 (生物符号学)

年 卷 期：2019年第12卷第1期

页      面：39-55页

核心收录：

学科分类：0303[法学-社会学] 0710[理学-生物学] 07[理学] 09[农学] 0712[理学-科学技术史(分学科，可授理学、工学、农学、医学学位)] 

主　　题：Saltationism Turing patterns Mimicry Pattern formation Genus Kallima Mimicry skepticism H F Nijhout 

摘      要：Biological mimicry is regarded by many as a textbook illustration of Darwin s idea of evolution by random mutation followed by differential selection of reproductively fit specimens, resulting in gradual phenotypic change in a population. In this paper, I argue that some cases of so-called mimicry are probably merely look-a-likes and do not gain an advantage due to their similarity in appearance to something else. In cases where a similar appearance does provide a benefit, I argue that it is possible that these forms of mimicry were created in a single generation. An interpretive response to an appearance as a sign can make a new structure perform drastically differently in an environment. In such cases, Darwin s natural selection mechanism only helps to explain gradual the spread of these new forms, not the creation of them. I argue that biosemiosis should be regarded as a much more powerful mechanism for affecting evolutionary trajectories than the gradualist view allows. I focus on two cases of butterfly mimicry: the Viceroy (Nymphalidae: Limenitis archippus) and Monarch (Nymphalidae: Danaus plexippus) butterflies, supposed Mullerian mimics, and deadleaf mimic butterflies (Kallima).