Polymorphic microsatellite markers for chromosomal races of Australian morabine grasshoppers (Vandiemenella, viatica species group)

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Chromosomally diverse Australian morabine grasshoppers (genus<jats:italic> Vandiemenella</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>viatica</jats:italic> species group) have parapatric distributions and occasionally hybridize at contact zones. To investigate population genetic structure and the extent of gene flow between chromosomal races/species of <jats:italic>Vandiemenella</jats:italic>, we isolated and characterized nine polymorphic microsatellite loci and one insertion/deletion polymorphic locus. The numbers of alleles per locus ranged from two to 34 across three chromosomal races on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, and expected heterozygosity within races ranged from 0.00 to 0.94. Inter‐taxon amplification was generally successful within <jats:italic>Vandiemenella</jats:italic>, but not for other morabine genera.</jats:p>