The B chromosome polymorphism of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans in North Africa. I. B variants and frequency

Abstract

Polymorphism for B chromosomes has been detected in all nine populations of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans ssp. plorans sampled in Morocco. The most frequent B chromosome in all populations showed a C-banding pattern and size similar to those of the B1 variant found in the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, other B chromosome variants (B(1iso1), B(1iso2), B(1d1), B(1di1), B3 and B(1dd1)) were discovered in these populations, although at a very low frequency. No significant differences in B chromosome frequency were found either in the nine populations or, for some of them, in up to three consecutive years. These results are discussed in the light of current hypotheses on the evolution of this B chromosome polymorphism in the Iberian Peninsula.