The Blueprint for Survival: The Blue Dasher Dragonfly as a Model for Urban Adaptation

Human alteration of natural environments and habitats is a major driver of species decline. However, a handful of species thrive in human altered environments. The biology, distribution, population structure and molecular adaptations enabling certain species to thrive in human-altered habitats are not well understood. Here, we evaluate the population and functional genomics, niche space and geometric morphometrics of the blue dasher ( Pachidiplax longipennis ), one of the most ubiquitously observed insects in human altered habitats. We identify a number of genes involved with the success of the blue dasher in human altered habitats. We specifically identify genes contributing to immune function and response to oxidative stress that could be key to the success of P. longipennis in degraded habitats.

Intriguingly, some genes related to these functions are found in regions of high genomic conservation between populations of P. longipennis , while others are in regions of the genome that are highly structured. Using one of the most robust locality datasets for any species to date, we also generate habitat suitability predictions which show that P. longipennis has spread with urbanization, as humans have created more suitable habitat for this species. Our work demonstrates that P. longipennis could serve as a useful indicator for identifying modified habitats where generalists are pushing out regional specialists. Furthermore, the genes we have putatively identified as associated with the success of P. longipennis in urban habitats are an important starting point for predicting which species will fare well in the Anthropocene.