Open AccessGeographic population structure of the A frican malaria vector A nopheles gambiae suggests a role for the forest‐savannah biome transition as a barrier to gene flow
Author(s) -
J Pinto,
A EgyirYawson,
JL Vicente,
B Gomes,
F Santolamazza,
M Moreno,
JD Charlwood,
F Simard,
N Elissa,
D Weetman,
MJ Donnelly,
A Caccone,
A della Torre
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
evolutionary applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 68
ISSN - 1752-4571
DOI - 10.1111/eva.12075
Subject(s) - biology , anopheles gambiae , gene flow , biome , population , genetic structure , ecology , malaria , genetic variation , genetics , gene , ecosystem , demography , sociology , immunology
Abstract The primary A frotropical malaria mosquito vector A nopheles gambiae sensu stric to has a complex population structure. In west A frica, this species is split into two molecular forms and displays local and regional variation in chromosomal arrangements and behaviors. To investigate patterns of macrogeographic population substructure, 25 A n. gambiae samples from 12 A frican countries were genotyped at 13 microsatellite loci. This analysis detected the presence of additional population structuring, with the M ‐form being subdivided into distinct west, central, and southern A frican genetic clusters. These clusters are coincident with the central A frican rainforest belt and northern and southern savannah biomes, which suggests restrictions to gene flow associated with the transition between these biomes. By contrast, geographically patterned population substructure appears much weaker within the S ‐form.