Warren Booth
· Associate ProfessorVerifiedVirginia Tech · Entomology
Active 2000–2026
About
Population genetics, evolutionary biology, molecular ecology, of vertebrates and invertebrates.
Research topics
- Genetics
- Biology
- Botany
- Toxicology
- Microbiology
- Demography
- Zoology
- Ecology
Selected publications
A Beginner's How‐To Guide to Urban Population Genetics and Genomics
Ecology and Evolution · 2026-04-01
articleOpen accessSenior authorUrbanization is one of the most significant drivers of environmental change, shaping the ecological and evolutionary processes of plants and animals. Understanding how species evolve in urban landscapes requires integrating population genetics and genomics with urban ecology. Thus, accessible guidance is necessary to facilitate interdisciplinary approaches for applying population genetic and genomic tools to understand the ecology and evolution of urban species. Here, we present a how-to guide with key concepts and methodologies for studying urban population genetics, including identifying genetic markers, choosing appropriate analytical tools, and applying spatial genetic modeling approaches. We emphasize practical applications to assess genetic diversity, population connectivity, and adaptation, relevant in the generation of management strategies for conservation, pest control, and assisted gene flow. By bridging the gap between population genomics and urban ecology, this guide aims to equip researchers, wildlife managers, and conservation practitioners with essential tools to study and manage urban populations. Strengthening collaborations between urban ecologists, pest management professionals, geneticists, and city planners will enhance our ability to develop sustainable cities that support biodiversity, mitigate urban pests and invasive species, and promote coexistence between urban development and nature.
Journal of Pest Science · 2025-12-05 · 1 citations
articleOpen accessAbstract The widespread resistance of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., to pyrethroid insecticides poses major challenges to effective control. Resistance can be attributed to the presence of target-site DNA mutations and the upregulation of genes associated with metabolic detoxification; the former being easily assessed through sequencing of the para -type voltage-gated sodium channel. While studies have documented kdr- associated mutation frequencies, temporal investigations are lacking at a scale finer than the continental United States level. To address this knowledge gap, we sequenced 227 populations of C. lectularius , primarily collected over a 15 y period (2010–2024) from low-income, multi-unit buildings in New Jersey, to investigate the distribution and temporal dynamics of three kdr -associated mutations: V419L, L925I, and I936F. The V419L mutation was present in 95.3–100% of populations sampled across New Jersey, while it was absent from the five populations sampled in Indiana. Post 2014 the V419L mutation was fixed in all sampled populations. Across all temporal and regional samples, the L925I mutation was fixed (100%), whereas the I936F mutation was absent. Our results indicate that the double mutant, commonly referred to as haplotype C, is the predominant genotype across all populations, with haplotype B (L925I mutation only) absent after 2014. The prevalence of kdr- associated mutations emphasizes the need for continued resistance monitoring in concert with research into the evolution of resistance mechanisms to support future bed bug management.
Habitat Mosaic Limits Gene Flow and Promotes Morphological Adaptation in a Generalist Mammal
Ecology and Evolution · 2025-12-01 · 1 citations
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingABSTRACT Many habitat generalist species exploit habitat patches of differing types and quality, yet the influence of such habitat mosaics on genetic structure remains poorly understood. Here, we tested whether fine‐scale habitat heterogeneity affects the population structure of the European wood mouse ( Apodemus sylvaticus ) by sampling three matched forest parks in Northern Ireland across hedgerow, forest edge, and inner forest habitats. Microsatellite analysis revealed strong genetic differentiation among sites and consistent divergence between habitat types within sites. Stable isotope data showed that hedgerow mice fed at a higher trophic level than inner forest individuals, with forest edge mice intermediate. Mandible shape also differed by habitat and was correlated with δ 15 N, though differences were subtle and may reflect both drift and plasticity. Together, these results indicate that habitat mosaics can promote repeated, fine‐scale population divergence even in the absence of physical barriers. This highlights the role of ecological heterogeneity in structuring genetic variation in widespread generalists and cautions against assuming panmixia in continuous landscapes.
2025-04-04
peer-reviewSenior authorLegacy effects of religion, politics and war on urban evolutionary biology
Nature Cities · 2025-07-02 · 6 citations
articleBiology Letters · 2025-05-01 · 9 citations
articleSenior authorCorrespondingThere are calls for research into the historical evolutionary relationships between humans and their commensals, as it would greatly inform models that predict the spread of pests and diseases under urban population expansion. The earliest civilizations emerged approximately 10 000 years ago and created conditions ideal for the establishment and spread of commensal urban pests. Commensal relations between humans and pests likely emerged with these early civilizations; however, for most species (e.g. German cockroach and black rat), these relationships have formed relatively recently—within the last 5000 years—raising the question of whether others could have emerged earlier. Following comparative whole genome analysis of bed bugs, Cimex lectularius , belonging to two genetically distinct lineages, one associated with bats and the other with humans, coupled with demographic modelling, our findings suggests that while their association with humans dates back potentially hundreds of thousands of years, a dramatic change in the effective population size of the human-associated lineage occurred approximately 13 000 years ago; a pattern not found in the bat-associated lineage. The timing and magnitude of the demographic patterns provide compelling evidence that the human-associated lineage closely tracked the demographic history of modern humans and their movement into the first cities. As such, bed bugs may represent the first true urban pest insect species.
Journal of Medical Entomology · 2025-03-14 · 5 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorThe common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (L.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), is a pervasive indoor pest with prominent medical, veterinary, and economic impacts. Bed bug infestations are controlled by a wide range of insecticides, including pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, pyrroles, and phenylpyrazoles; however, bed bugs have evolved resistance mechanisms to most of these insecticides. Mutations in the Rdl (resistance to dieldrin) gene, located in a subunit of the γ-amino butyric acid (GABA)-gated chloride channel, have been identified in several pest insects, including the German cockroach. These have been found to confer resistance to fipronil, a phenylpyrazole insecticide commonly used in urban environments, in addition to cyclodienes (eg dieldrin), a class of insecticides banned in most countries since the 1990s. While resistance to dieldrin and fipronil has been reported in bed bugs, both C. lectularius and the tropical bed bug, C. hemipterus, the occurrence of mutations in the Rdl gene has yet to be thoroughly investigated. In this study, we sequence a fragment of the Rdl gene commonly found to harbor cyclodiene and phenylpyrazole conferring mutations from 134 unique populations collected across the United States and Canada spanning a 14-yr period. Homozygous genotypes for the A302S mutation were found in 2 geographically distinct populations. This finding represents the first record of a non-synonymous Rdl mutation in bed bugs and identifies another mechanism by which insecticide resistance may be conferred in this species.
Facultative Parthenogenesis in a Zoo‐Held Northern Water Snake, <i>Nerodia sipedon</i>
Zoo Biology · 2024-09-05
article1st authorCorrespondingOver the past several decades, facultative parthenogenesis (FP)-the ability of a sexually reproducing species to reproduce asexually-in vertebrates has been removed from the realm of obscurity and placed firmly in a position where it warrants focused scientific attention. Likely fueled by increased recognition of the trait, the availability of molecular tools capable of disentangling FP from long-term sperm storage, and the availability of potential cases originating from both zoological and private collections, a wealth of papers has been published revealing the diversity of vertebrate systems in which FP occurs. Specifically, cases have been reported in squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes), crocodiles, birds, and elasmobranch fishes (sharks, rays, and skates). Nonetheless, gaps remain in species documentation, and it is important to analyze and report on new cases. In this paper, we provide a DNA-based analysis confirming FP in a zoo-maintained northern water snake, Nerodia sipedon, a viviparous natricine species that is common and widely distributed in North America. Additionally, we provide information on the sexual development and health of the male parthenogen. Encouragingly, zoological institutions, aquaria, university laboratories, and private collections continue to be rich sources for the further study and documentation of FP in vertebrate species, advancing our understanding of this reproductive trait.
Journal of Heredity · 2024-10-22 · 2 citations
articleSenior authorFacultative parthenogenesis (FP), or asexual reproduction by sexually reproducing female animals, has been reported across several clades of vertebrates and is increasingly being recognized as a reproductive mechanism with significant implications for the genetic variation of captive and wild populations. The definitive identification of parthenogens requires molecular confirmation, with large genomic datasets necessary to accurately parse the parthenogenetic mechanism (i.e. endoduplication, gametic duplication, terminal fusion automixis, or central fusion automixis). Current methods for inferring FP from large genomic datasets are statistically intensive, require competency in R scripting for their execution, and are not designed for detection of facultative parthenogenesis or screening of large numbers of mother/offspring pairs, whereas small datasets (i.e. microsatellites) that can be evaluated visually lack the power to discriminate among FP mechanisms. Here, we present the user-friendly software program, ParthenoGenius, that uses intuitive logic to infer the presence and mechanism of FP from even large genomic datasets comprising many mothers and offspring. ParthenoGenius runs relatively quickly and does not require the researcher to have knowledge of R scripting or statistics. ParthenoGenius was tested on eight empirical datasets and in each case identified parthenogens (and parthenogenic mechanism when present) consistent with results of previous studies or corroborating evidence. ParthenoGenius will facilitate the rapid screening of large genomic datasets comprising many mothers and offspring for the presence and mechanism of parthenogenesis, improving our understanding of the frequency and phylogenetic distribution of FP across the animal kingdom.
Journal of Heredity · 2024-11-28 · 4 citations
articleSenior authorThe common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is a globally distributed pest insect of medical, veterinary, and economic importance. Previous reference genome assemblies for this species were generated from short-read sequencing data, resulting in a ~650 Mb composed of thousands of contigs. Here, we present a haplotype-resolved, chromosome-level reference genome, generated from an adult Harlen strain female specimen. Using PacBio long read and Omni-C proximity sequencing, we generated a 540 Mb genome with 15 chromosomes (13 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes-X1X2) with an N50 > 30 Mb and BUSCO > 90%. Previous karyotyping efforts indicate an XY sex chromosome system, with 2n = 26 and X1X1X2X2 females and X1X2Y males; however, significant fragmentation of the X chromosome has also been reported. We further use whole genome resequencing data from males and females to identify the X1 and X2 chromosomes based on sex biases in coverage. This highly contiguous reference genome assembly provides a much-improved resource for identifying chromosomal genome architecture, and for interpreting patterns of urban outbreaks and signatures of selection linked to insecticide resistance.
Recent grants
Frequent coauthors
- 68 shared
Gordon W. Schuett
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
- 60 shared
Edward L. Vargo
Texas A&M University
- 52 shared
Coby Schal
North Carolina State University
- 34 shared
Brenna A. Levine
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
- 26 shared
Gordon M. Burghardt
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- 26 shared
R. Graham Reynolds
University of North Carolina at Asheville
- 25 shared
Athanasia C. Tzika
University of Geneva
- 25 shared
Larry Million
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Labs
Education
- 2005
Ph.D, Biology and Biochemistry
Queen's University Belfast
- 2000
B.Sc, Biology and Biochemistry
Queen's University Belfast
- Resume-aware match score
- Save to shortlist
- AI-drafted outreach
See your match with Warren Booth
PhdFit ranks faculty by your research interests, methods, and publications — grounded in their actual work, not templates.
- Free to start
- No credit card
- 30-second signup