Population Genomics in Ants

Genome Wide Selection Signature.

Two morphologically distinguishable South American species of ants, Solenopsis richteri (temperate climate) and Solenopsis invicta (subtropical climate) invaded North America. These two species freely hybridize in their nonnative environment. The populations of pure and hybrid species are distributed in different geographical regions: south part is mainly occupied by S.invicta, north part by S.richteri, and middle part is a hybrid zone, which migrates further north. I would like to assess whether the hybridization carries an adaptive character using whole genome scans of hybrid and pure populations in both native and nonnative ranges.