Rapid and strong population genetic differentiation and genomic signatures of climatic adaptation in an invasive mealybug

Abstract

Aim: A growing number of studies suggest that adaptation of invasive species plays key roles in their successful establishment in novel environments. However, adaptation of invasive species to climatic conditions remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to understand the population genetic structure produced by the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis invasion and to identify preliminary signals of selection during its range expansion. Location: China. Methods: We examined genetic structure of 11 populations across China using SNPs, microsatellites and a segment of mitochondrial cox1 gene. ADMIXTURE, STRUCTURE and DAPC were used to infer population genetic structure; the dispersal ro..