Large areas of Central Asia are covered by dry steppe, including the Altai and Tuva region in Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia. The specific climatic conditions have led to the evolution of an adapted fauna unique to this region. One example is represented by the Bryodemini grasshoppers belonging to the band winged grasshoppers (Oedipodinae), which have evolved into several genera and species endemic to this region. The genera Angaracris, Bryodema and Bryodemella most probably are closely related and comprise about 30 described species. Many of these species are restricted to single highly isolated mountain areas. This effected different morphological and behavioural traits among these species; thus, tibial colours (probably courtship display), song producing mechanisms and song structures vary essentially between taxa. Furthermore, the taxonomical status of these genera is still ambiguous.

We question whether these morphological and ethological groups follow the phylogeographical structures of the species. In addition to these taxonomic and phylogenetic studies we used the aforementioned genera as models to get first insides into the phylogeographical patterns of the Altai and Tuva region which are mostly unstudied. Therefore, we analyse different mitochondrial and nuclear gene fragments to reveal potential isolation barriers, refuges and speciation centres.

In this project we collaborate with scientists from Russia (Alexander Benediktov, Moskau State University, http://entomology.narud.ru; Michael G. Sergeev, Novosibirsk State University, http://acrida.ru) and China (Xin-Jiang Li, Hebei University).

We thank Klaus-Georg Heller (Erlangen, Germany) for providing material.