Population cytogenetics of the genus Caledia (Orthoptera: Acridinae)

Abstract

The acridine grasshopper, Caledia captiva exists as two chromosomal races in south-east Queensland. One of these, the “Moreton” race inhabits the coastal region to the east of the Great Dividing Range. All chromosomes of the complement (2n=11II+XO/XX) have been involved in centromeric rearrangement, which transforms the acro- and telocentric chromosomes into submeta- and metacentric elements. The second, or “Torresian” race is widely distributed through southern Papua, Arnhem Land, Cape York Peninsula and down the east coast of Australia as far south as Brisbane. This race, which is characterised by a completely acro- and telocentric chromosome complement, approaches the “Moreton” race in south-east Queensland where the two races are separated by less than 1 km, along a front of at least 150 km. Evidence is presented to show that chromosome introgression is occurring across the contact zone and this takes place in one direction only, namely the “Torresian” chromosomes are infiltrating into the “Moreton” race but not reciprocally. Furthermore, the introgression of chromosomes across the zone is limited to certain members of the Torresian complement and even then these successful chromosomes show highly variable degrees of penetrance into the “Moreton” race. It is proposed that a “tension zone” exists between these two races which is maintained by the interaction of (a) ecological tolerance differences on either side of the zone and (b) by partial competitive exclusion due to the interracial differences in phenology. This case of parapatric association with limited hybridisation is unique in its clarity due to the marked differences in the appearance of the chromosome complements of these races which permits direct assessment of the behaviour of most members of the genome in hybrids and their derivatives.