title: Seasonal variation in wing size and shape between geographic populations of the malaria vector, Anopheles coluzzii in Burkina Faso (West Africa).
abstract: The mosquito, Anopheles coluzzii is a major vector of human malaria in Africa with widespread distribution throughout the continent. The species hence populates a wide range of environments in contrasted ecological settings often exposed to strong seasonal fluctuations. In the dry savannahs of West Africa, this mosquito population dynamics closely follows the pace of surface water availability: the species pullulates during the rainy season and is able to reproduce throughout the dry season in areas where permanent water bodies are available for breeding. The impact of such environmental fluctuation on mosquito development and the phenotypic quality of emerging adults has however not been addressed in details. Here, we examined and compared phenotypic changes in the duration of pre-imaginal development, body dry mass at emergence and wing size, shape and surface area in young adult females An. coluzzii originated from five distinct geographic locations when they are reared in two contrasting conditions mimicking those experienced by mosquitoes during the rainy season (RS) and at the onset of the dry season (ODS) in Burkina Faso (West Africa). Our results demonstrated strong phenotypic plasticity in all traits, with differences in the magnitude and direction of changes between RS and ODS depending upon the geographic origin, hence the genetic background of the mosquito populations. Highest heterogeneity within population was observed in Bama, where large irrigation schemes allow year-round mosquito breeding. Further studies are needed to explore the adaptive value of such phenotypic plasticity and its relevance for local adaptation in An. coluzzii.
authors.affiliation: Université de Rennes 1, UMR CNRS 6553 Ecobio, Campus de Beaulieu, 263 Avenue du Gal Leclerc, CS 74205 35042 Rennes Cedex, France; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier 1-Université de Montpellier 2 MIVEGEC, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. Electronic address: kevin.hidalgo@gmx.com.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier 1-Université de Montpellier 2 MIVEGEC, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; CIRAD INTERTRYP, Campus International de Baillarguet, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dujardin
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier 1-Université de Montpellier 2 MIVEGEC, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Direction Régionale de l'Ouest (DRO), 399 Avenue de la Liberté, 01 BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mouline
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Direction Régionale de l'Ouest (DRO), 399 Avenue de la Liberté, 01 BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Roch K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dabiré
authors.affiliation: Université de Rennes 1, UMR CNRS 6553 Ecobio, Campus de Beaulieu, 263 Avenue du Gal Leclerc, CS 74205 35042 Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Renault
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier 1-Université de Montpellier 2 MIVEGEC, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000502:physiology*; D002050:Burkina Faso; D004463:Ecology; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012621:Seasons; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Development; Dry season; Geometric morphometrics; Mosquito; Phenotypic plasticity