Essential Site Maintenance: Authorea-powered sites will be updated circa 15:00-17:00 Eastern on Tuesday 5 November.
There should be no interruption to normal services, but please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any issues.

loading page

Phenotypic divergence of Glossina morsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae) populations in Zambia: Application of landmark-based wing geometric morphometrics to discriminate population-level variation
  • +1
  • Jackson Muyobela,
  • Christian Pirk,
  • Abdullahi Yusuf,
  • Catherine Sole
Jackson Muyobela
Zambia Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Christian Pirk
University of Pretoria
Author Profile
Abdullahi Yusuf
University of Pretoria
Author Profile
Catherine Sole
University of Pretoria
Author Profile

Abstract

An important consequence of the discontinuous distribution of insect populations within their geographic range is phenotypic divergence. Detection of this divergence can be challenging when it occurs through subtle shifts in morphological traits with complex geometries, such as insect wing venation. Here, we used landmark-based wing geometric morphometrics to investigate the population-level phenotypic variation of the two subspecies of Glossina morsitans, G. m. centralis Machado and G. m. morsitans Westwood that occur in Zambia. Twelve homologous landmarks digitized on the right wings of 720 specimens collected from four and five sites (80 per site with 1:1 sex ratio) within the G. m. centralis and G. m. morsitans range respectively, were subjected to generalised Procrustes analysis to obtain wing centroid size (CS) and wing shape variable. Linear permutation models were then used to compare CS and wing shape between male and female G. morsitans, the two subspecies G. m. centralis and G. m. morsitans, and between sample locations within each subspecies range. Significant differences in CS and wing shape were observed between G. morsitans sexes, subspecies and sample locations within each subspecies range. Neighbour-joining trees derived from the analysis of Procrustes distances showed that tsetse within each subspecies range were highly divergent. We conclude that G. morsitans populations in Zambia exhibit significant population-level variation in fly size and wing shape which suggests high levels of population structuring. The main drivers of this structuring could be adaptation to local climatic condition, especially temperature and random genetic drift. We therefore recommend molecular studies to estimate the levels of gene flow between these populations and determine their levels of genetic isolation.
Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
20 Feb 2024Assigned to Editor
20 Feb 2024Submission Checks Completed
08 Mar 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
30 Apr 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
31 Jul 20241st Revision Received
01 Aug 2024Submission Checks Completed
01 Aug 2024Assigned to Editor
01 Aug 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Aug 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Accept