Allozymic Differences between Black and White Crappies

Abstract

Abstract Allozymic variation was examined from two allopatric and two sympatric populations of white crappie Pomoxis annularis and black crappie P. nigromaculatus in Texas. Twenty-five presumptive enzyme-encoding loci were assayed. Nine loci were monomorphic for the same alleles in both species. Eleven loci were characterized by electromorphs that allowed discrimination between these two species. The fixed allelic differences between the species provide an accurate means for identifying artificially propagated F1 crappie hybrids, evaluating subsequent reproductive success, and assessing introgression where both species are stocked together or where hybrid crappies are stocked into resident populations of black or white crappie.