Journal of Vector Ecology (2014) 39, 168-181

Desmond H. Foley, Yvonne-Marie Linton, J. Freddy Ruiz-Lopez, Jan E. Conn, Maria Anice M. Sallum, Marinete M. Póvoa, Eduardo S. Bergo, Tatiane M.P. Oliveira, Izis Sucupira and Richard C. Wilkerson (2014)
Geographic distribution, evolution, and disease importance of species within the Neotropical Anopheles albitarsis Group (Diptera, Culicidae)
Journal of Vector Ecology 39 (1), 168-181
Abstract: The Anopheles albitarsis group of mosquitoes comprises eight recognized species and one mitochondrial lineage. Our knowledge of malaria vectorial importance and the distribution and evolution of these taxa is incomplete. We constructed ecological niche models (ENMs) for these taxa and used hypothesized phylogenetic relationships and ENMs to investigate environmental and ecological divergence associated with speciation events. Two major clades were identified, one north (Clade 1) and one south (Clade 2) of the Amazon River that likely is or was a barrier to mosquito movement. Clade 1 species occur more often in higher average temperature locations than Clade 2 species, and taxon splits within Clade 1 corresponded with a greater divergence of variables related to precipitation than was the case within Clade 2. Comparison of the ecological profiles of sympatric species and sister species support the idea that phylogenetic proximity is related to ecological similarity. Anopheles albitarsis I, An. janconnae, and An. marajoara ENMs had the highest percentage of their predicted suitable habitat overlapping distribution models of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, and warrant additional studies of the transmission potential of these species. Phylogenetic proximity may be related to malaria vectorial importance within the Albitarsis Group.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Desmond H. Foley, Maria Anice Mureb Sallum, Jan E. Conn, Yvonne-Marie Linton, Richard C. Wilkerson

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anopheles albitarsis		Argentina
	Anopheles albitarsis		Brazil (south)
	Anopheles albitarsis		Paraguay
	Anopheles marajoara		Brazil (NW)
	Anopheles marajoara		Brazil (NE)
	Anopheles deaneorum		Bolivia
	Anopheles deaneorum		Brazil (NW)