Morocco Bound

A tale of hap and mishap!

Robert Angus

a, griseostriatus

b, ibericus

c, inexpectatus

d, alpestris

Some background: 2009 work: Alpine distributions clarified, S. ibericus found on Corsica. Central Apennine material not found. Still to do: sort out western Alpine material for S. inexpectatus, and find out which species is in the Atlas mountains.

Initial planning. Alps in July or Atlas in the spring?

Discussion with Ignacio Ribera suggested a spring trip to the Moyen Atlas was likely to be successful and not too strenuous!

The party to be myself, my daughter Lizzie and David Bilton.

Late April was the only possible suitable time.

Then the volcano struck!

Our planned start date was April 20th, with return in the 27th, but we agreed that postponement till April 22nd was possible, keeping the planned return date.

Mishap no. 1! The initial flight was cancelled, but Lizzie and I were able to transfer to the 22nd. 10 minutes later the flight was full and David was unable to come.

Mishap no. 2! Lizzie and I duly flew to Marrakech, collected our hire-car and set off on the drive to Azrou. Near Kenifra we were run off the road by an oncoming people-carrier.

Waiting for the new car. Laterite for a hint of Africa!

New day, new wheels!

The lake at Col du Zad

Colymbetes

Across the road – griseo pool!

It was breeding as well!

Hyla

By Lake Afennourir

In the cedar forest

A visit from the relatives!

Something rather nicer!

Thunderstorm – but this time we escaped it!

Journey’s end – time to relax in Marrakech.

S. ibericus, complete female chromosome set from Col du Zad. The fused chromosome 1 is arrowed. 5 of the 6 specimens analysed are heterozygous for this fusion. The 6th is homozygous unfused.

Success!

Sampled populations of S. ibericus