Spatial and temporal variations of the chromosomal inversion polymorphism of Anopheles funestus in Senegal

The polymorphism of paracentric inversions of An. funestus polytene chromos omes was studied along a transect in Senegal in order to assess their varia tions at the spatial and temporal level. There was an increase in the degre e of chromosomal polymorphism from the West to South-East. At the geographi cal level the variations in inversion frequencies were highly significant w hatever the chromosomal arm considered. However, the variations in the chro mosomal inversion frequencies did not change significantly over either seas ons or years, except for inversion 3b in the village of Dielmo. Such geogra phical variability within a relatively limited area, associated to temporal stability, suggest a restricted gene flow between the populations studied, probably due to discontinuities in the An. Funestus distribution and to it s bioecology.