A primary objective of our lab’s research is to establish Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies and their host plant, Pipevine, as a model system for studying evolutionary biology. These butterflies belong to the tribe Troidini, which is distributed worldwide, with all species in this tribe specializing as herbivores on Pipevine plants (Aristolochia species). These butterflies sequester toxins, specifically aristolochic acids, secreted by the plants, and the two species have likely co-evolved antagonistically across their broad geographic range. This offers a unique case where the colonization of the butterflies can be tracked based on the plants and co-extinction can be predicted assessing the conservation status of one species. The sole study examining the evolutionary history of Neotropical Troidini suggests that three species of these butterflies originated in the late Eocene (33–42 Ma) in North America. Subsequently, two independent lineages (Battus versus Euryades and Parides) migrated to South America via temporary biogeographical connections and later became extinct in North America. Another study investigating the phylogeographic history of Battus philenor butterflies in North America suggests weak population genetic structure across the species’ range and the possibility of recent range expansion from presumed Pleistocene refuges in southeastern North America.

As part of our research, we are interested in sequencing the genomes of several populations of Neotropical Battus as well as several species of Aristolochia. We are also interested in profiling their chemical constitutions to estimated the level of Aristolochic acids in different species. We are open to receiving Aristolochia samples for our research.

If you have an Aristolochia species growing next to you, please contact us at schaturvedi@tulane.edu