Journal of Entomological Research
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 49
  • Issue: 1

Genetic diversity and population structure of Drosophila melanogaster in diverse ecological niches

  • Author:
  • Vundela Swathi*, Shivangi Gupta1, Ravi Kumar2, Abhishek Singla3, S.M. Indumathi4
  • Total Page Count: 9
  • Page Number: 283 to 291

1Quantum University Research Center, Quantum University, Roorkee - 247 667, Uttarakhand, India; Orcid Id : 0009-0005-4285-8974

2Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura - 140 417, Punjab, India; Orcid Id : https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8257-9794

3Chitkara Centre for Research and Development, Chitkara University, Solan - 174 103, Himachal Pradesh, India; Orcid Id : https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5765-3742

4Department of Biotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai - 600 119, Tamil Nadu, India; Orcid Id : https://orcid.org/00000003-0854-0733

Centre for Multidisciplinary Research, Anurag University, Hyderabad - 500 088, Telangana, India

*Corresponding authors’ E-mail : vundelaswathi2024@protonmail.com; Orcid Id : 0009-0009-4991-1511

Online Published on 13 May, 2025.

Abstract

Present study explores how environmental factors, population dynamics, and evolutionary processes shape the genetic diversity of Drosophila with a focus on different natural and urban habitats. We outline the significance of studying Drosophila in its natural environment and the evolutionary mechanisms that maintain genetic variation. The case studies and genetic analyses showcasing the variability of genetic markers (e.g., microsatellites, SNPs) and population structures of Drosophila from varied ecological niches. We examine gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection as key drivers of population divergence and structure and our findings highlights the adaptive potential of D. melanogaster to diverse ecological conditions and the relevance of these findings to broader evolutionary studies. As human activities and climate change continue to alter ecological landscapes, understanding how genetic diversity and population structure respond is critical for both conservation and evolutionary biology.

Keywords

Adaptation, Drosophila melanogaster, Ecological niches, Gene flow, Genetic diversity, Genetic drift, Dispersal, Phenotypic plasticity, Population structure