Comparative FISH analysis in five species of Eyprepocnemidine grasshoppers

Abstract

The chromosomal localization of ribosomal DNA, and a 180 bp satellite DNA isolated from Spanish Eyprepocnemis plorans specimens, has been analysed in five Eyprepocnemidinae species collected in Russia and Central Asia. Caucasian E. plorans individuals carried each of the two DNAs, but the rDNA was limited to only two chromosomes (S9 and S11) in sharp contrast to Spanish specimens that show 4-8 rDNA clusters and to Moroccan specimens which carry rDNA in almost all chromosomes. The four remaining species, however, lacked the 180bp tandem repeat, and showed rDNA clusters in one (S9 in Thisoicetrinus pterosfichus), two (S9 and S10 in Eyprepocnemis unicolor, M8 and S11 in Heteracris adspersa), or three (S9, S10, and S11 in Shirakiacris shirakii) chromosome pairs. The implications of these findings for the evolution of these two chromosome markers in this group of species are discussed.