Geographic population structure of the African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae suggests a role for the forest‐savannah biome transition as a barrier to gene flow

• Published in: Evolutionary applications Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 910 - 924
• Main Authors: J, Pinto, A, Egyir‐Yawson, JL, Vicente, B, Gomes, F, Santolamazza, M, Moreno, JD, Charlwood, F, Simard, N, Elissa, D, Weetman, MJ, Donnelly, A, Caccone, A, della Torre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-09-2013; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Anopheles gambiae; Chromosomes; Ecosystems; Gene flow; Genes; Genomes; geographic regions; Insecticides; Malaria; microsatellites; molecular forms; Mutation; Original; Population; Population structure; Rainforests; Ribosomal DNA; S form; Studies; Tropical diseases; Mali; Africa; microsatellites; Anopheles gambiae; population structure; geographic regions; molecular forms
• ISSN: 1752-4571; 1752-4571
• DOI: 10.1111/eva.12075

The primary Afrotropical malaria mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto has a complex population structure. In west Africa, 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 An. gambiae samples from 12 African 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 African genetic clusters. These clusters are coincident with the central African 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.