The Evolution Of Water Balance In Glossina (Diptera: Glossinidae): Correlations With Climate

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Tropical Diseases
Article Date: 13 Nov 2008 - 7:00 PST

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The water balance of tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) has significant implications for understanding biogeography and climate change responses in these African disease vectors.

Although moisture is important for tsetse population dynamics, evolutionary responses of Glossina water balance to climate have been relatively poorly explored and earlier studies may have been confounded by several factors.

The results of this study suggest an important role for water balance physiology of pupae in determining inter-specific variation and moderating climate change responses.

Royal Society Journal Biology Letters

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Biology Letters