Data from: A spatial genetics approach to inform vector control of tsetse flies (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) in Northern Uganda

Tsetse flies (genus Glossina) are the only vector for the parasitic trypanosomes responsible for sleeping sickness and nagana across sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, the tsetse fly Glossina fuscipes fuscipes is responsible for transmission of the parasite in 90% of sleeping sickness cases, and co-occurrence of both forms of human-infective trypanosomes makes vector control a priority. We use population genetic data from 38 samples from northern Uganda in a novel methodological pipeline that integrates genetic data, remotely sensed environmental data, and hundreds of field-survey observations. This methodological pipeline identifies isolated habitat by first identifying environmental parameters correlated with genetic differentiation, second, predicting spatial connectivity using field-survey observations and the most predictive environmental parameter(s), and third, overlaying the connectivity surface onto a habitat suitability map. Results from this pipeline indicated that net photosynthesis was the strongest predictor of genetic differentiation in G. f. fuscipes in northern Uganda. The resulting connectivity surface identified a large area of well-connected habitat in northwestern Uganda, and twenty-four isolated patches on the northeastern margin of the G. f. fuscipes distribution. We tested this novel methodological pipeline by completing an ad hoc sample and genetic screen of G. f. fuscipes samples from a model-predicted isolated patch, and evaluated whether the ad hoc sample was in fact as genetically isolated as predicted. Results indicated that genetic isolation of the ad hoc sample was as genetically isolated as predicted, with differentiation well above estimates made in samples from within well-connected habitat separated by similar geographic distances. This work has important practical implications for the control of tsetse and other disease vectors, because it provides a way to identify isolated populations where it will be safer and easier to implement vector control and that should be prioritized as study sites during the development and improvement of vector control methods.采采蝇（舌蝇属，Glossina）是撒哈拉以南非洲地区引发昏睡病（sleeping sickness）与纳加纳锥虫病（nagana）的寄生性锥虫的唯一传播媒介。在乌干达，棕足舌蝇指名亚种（Glossina fuscipes fuscipes）是导致90%昏睡病病例的寄生虫传播媒介，而两种可感染人类的锥虫共同流行，使得媒介防控成为当务之急。本研究采用整合了群体遗传学数据、遥感环境数据以及数百份野外调查观测结果的新型方法学流程（pipeline），分析了采自乌干达北部的38份样本。该流程通过三步实现隔离生境识别：首先筛选与遗传分化相关的环境参数；其次结合野外调查观测结果与最优预测性环境参数，预测空间连通性；最后将连通性图层叠加至生境适宜性地图。分析结果显示，净光合作用是乌干达北部棕足舌蝇指名亚种遗传分化的最强预测因子。由此生成的连通性图层在乌干达西北部识别出一片大范围连通性良好的生境，并在该亚种分布区的东北边缘发现24个隔离种群斑块。为验证该新型方法学流程，我们对模型预测的隔离斑块中的棕足舌蝇指名亚种样本开展临时采样与遗传筛选，并评估临时采样样本是否如预测般存在遗传隔离。结果表明，临时采样样本的遗传隔离程度与预测结果一致，其遗传分化水平显著高于地理距离相近的连通生境内样本的分化估计值。本研究对采采蝇及其他病媒生物的防控具有重要实践价值，因其提供了一种识别隔离种群的方法——这类种群不仅更安全且更易开展媒介防控，同时也应在媒介防控技术的开发与优化过程中被优先选为研究位点。