Genetic Architecture and Population Structure of Periplaneta americana Along an Urban-Rural Gradient in Agra District, India
Keywords:
Periplaneta americana, genetic diversity, microsatellite markers, urban-rural gradient, gene flow, population structureAbstract
The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus, 1758), exemplifies remarkable ecological success in human-dominated landscapes, yet the genetic mechanisms underlying its adaptation across urban-rural gradients remain inadequately characterized. This study investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of P. americana across three ecologically contrasting sites— urban Agra city, peri-urban Tajganj, and rural Kiraoli—in Agra District, India. Using ten polymorphic microsatellite loci genotyped from 584 individuals, we identified a pronounced genetic cline characterized by elevated diversity in urban populations (Hₑ = 0.791; allelic richness = 16.82) and reduced diversity in rural conspecifics (Hₑ = 0.561; allelic richness = 9.64). Bayesian clustering (K = 2) revealed an urban-admixed cluster dominating Agra city (Q = 0.841) and a ruralisolate cluster dominating Kiraoli (Q = 0.786), with Tajganj exhibiting substantial admixture (Q = 0.523). Pairwise Fₛₜ values ranged from 0.089 (urban–peri-urban) to 0.168 (urban–rural), with gene flow estimates (Nₘ = 1.24–2.56) indicating asymmetric connectivity mediated by transport infrastructure. These findings demonstrate that human-mediated dispersal, particularly through tourism and trade networks, sustains urban genetic diversity while rural populations undergo relative isolation and local adaptation, with peri-urban zones functioning as dynamic hybrid interfaces.
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