Cytogenetic differentiation between Palearctic and Nearctic populations of Chironomus plumosus L. (Diptera, Chironomidae)

Macrogeographic patterns of polytene chromosomal banding sequences were studied in natural populations of the Holarctic species Chironomus plumosus. Of the 31 inversion sequences now known, 16 are endemic to the Palearctic, 7 are endemic to the Nearctic, and 8 are Holarctic sequences common to both zoogeographic zones. Differences in the sets of inversion sequences found on each continent, plus differing frequencies of Holarctic sequences, result in great overall divergence of karyotypes on the two continents. The karyotype of Nearctic C. plumosus differs from that of Palearctic populations primarily by the presence of a homozygous Nearctic sequence in arm A (n'plu A9), along with fixation (h'plu C2, h'plu E2, and h'plu F1), or high frequency (h'plu D2), of Holarctic sequences which are present but less frequent in the Palearctic. Although long continental isolation has led to great divergence of karyotypes on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, all populations of C. plumosus show sufficient cytogenetic similarity to constitute a single Holarctic species.Key words: karyotype, inversion polymorphism, cytogenetic distances, Chironomus.