A survey of restriction fragment polymorphism in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 17 populations of the mosquito Aedes albopictus was undertaken. The mtDNA size was estimated to be about 17.5 kbp. The level of polymorphism was low, with over 99% of the fragments being shared in common among the 17 populations. Three populations, Mauritius, Singapore, and Hong Kong, contained individuals with both the ancestral and novel mtDNA haplotypes. We conclude that the low level of mtDNA polymorphism in A. albopictus is a result of recent range expansion and that the mixture of haplotypes is a likely result of human-aided gene flow among populations.Key words: mitochondrial DNA, genetic variation, genetic structure, Aedes albopictus.
Temporal genetic variation in populations of the limpet Cellana grata from Hong Kong shores