Population cytology of the genus Phaulacridium. IV. Phaulacridium marginale (Walker)--the North Island populations.
Samples of Phaulacridium marginale were taken from the North Island of New Zealand, together with further samples from three South Island populations. Seven of the North Island populations were found to be polymorphic for a small telocentric B chromosome. In only one case was the B chromosome significantly associated with an increase chiasma frequency. All three South Island populations contained B chromosomes. Seven of the nine N.I. populations were also polymorphic for extra segments on the centric end of the S11 chromosome. In six of them this polymorphism co-existed with that for B'S. A new polymorphism was encountered in two populations. This was for a large block of heterochromatic material located at the centric end of one of the smaller medium-sized chromosomes which thus becomes acro- rather than telocentric. Tt would appear that the New Zealand grasshopper, Ph. marginale, is able to tolerate many different polymorphisms for extra heterochromatin. However, this ability is perhaps restricted to central populations. In this context, the high level of occurence of these polymorphisms in the North Island could be due to the better climatological conditions existing there compared to most of the South Island.
D000782:Aneuploidy; D002875:Chromosomes; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000502:physiology*; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000502:physiology*; D008540:Meiosis; D009520:New Zealand; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D006570:Heterochromatin