Hybridization between introduced spotted bass and smallmouth bass in reservoirs

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
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Abstract

Introductions of black basses Micropterus spp. beyond their native ranges have led to hybridization within the genus. In the southeastern USA, the potential for hybridization appears high because species introductions have been common in reservoirs. We determined the extent of hybridization between smallmouth bass M. dolomieu and spotted bass M. punctulatus in reservoirs in which introductions of either species into the native range of the other species had occurred. Three allozyme loci were used to distinguish the two species and their hybrids. Significant hybridization occurred in two of three reservoirs where introductions had been reported. In Lake Chatuge, Georgia–North Carolina, where the Alabama subspecies of spotted bass M. p. henshalli was introduced, 77 of 276 fish had hybrid genotypes, and only 2 fish had genotypes of the native smallmouth bass. In Thurlow Reservoir, Alabama, where smallmouth bass were introduced and Alabama spotted bass were native, 3 of 17 fish had hybrid genotypes. Only I fish with a possible hybrid genotype was identified in two reservoirs containing native smallmouth bass and northern spotted bass M. p. punctulatus.

Suggested Citation

Pierce, P., and Van Den Avyle, M., 1997, Hybridization between introduced spotted bass and smallmouth bass in reservoirs: Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, v. 126, no. 6, p. 939-947, https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1997)126<0939:HBISBA>2.3.CO;2.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Hybridization between introduced spotted bass and smallmouth bass in reservoirs
Series title Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
DOI 10.1577/1548-8659(1997)126<0939:HBISBA>2.3.CO;2
Volume 126
Issue 6
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher American Fisheries Society
Description 9 p.
First page 939
Last page 947
Country United States
State Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina
Other Geospatial Lake Chatuge, Thurlow Reservoir
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