Black Bass Diversity: Multidisciplinary Science for Conservation

Abstract

<em>Abstract</em>.—Interspecific hybridization among micropterids was once thought to be rare but has been documented in several cases of North American endemics. Introduction of the nonnative Smallmouth Bass <em>Micropterus dolomieu</em> across Texas has threatened to eliminate the Guadalupe Bass <em>M. treculii </em>genome throughout its native range via introgression between the species. In 1992, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department began a stocking program in the Guadalupe River watershed to restore the genetic integrity of the local population. More than 600,000 hatchery-reared Guadalupe Bass fingerlings (~30 mm total length) were stocked in Johnson Creek over a 19-year period, and 360,000 fish were released in the North Fork, South Fork, and main-stem Guadalupe River over a 5-year period. Annual genetic monitoring indicated that hybridization significantly declined in all stream segments (<EM>P</EM> < 0.001) during the period of time when stocking occurred. Initially high hybridization rates (range, 20–100%; mean = 43.4%) were reduced to 0–24.2% (mean = 11.4%) at the termination of stocking. Linear regression indicated that hybridization in the North Fork and main-stem stream segments declined faster (9.0% per year) than all other test stream segments, whereas the South Fork Guadalupe River and upper Johnson Creek declined at 0.9% per year and lower Johnson Creek declined at 1.9% per year. Our data show that supplemental stocking is an effective approach to genetic restoration of compromised populations and should be considered as a viable management and conservation tool.