Hybridization of ciscoes (Coregonus spp.) in Lake Huron

Abstract

Gill raker number and length were compared for lake herring, Coregonus artedii LeSueur, and bloater, Coregonus hoyi (Gill), collected in 1917, 1956, and 1984 – 1985 at four locations in western Lake Huron to examine the effects of suspected introgressive hybridization on these distinctive species characters. Gill raker length showed no change from 1917 to 1984 – 1985, but gill raker number became similar in the two species over that period. Between 1917 and 1984 – 1985, mean gill raker counts decreased from 48.0 to 45.8 in lake herring, but increased from 41.8 to 43.1 in bloaters. The modal count for both species was 43 in 1984 – 1985. Intermediate gill raker counts were consistent with the hypothesis of hybridization. Bloater abundance increased greatly in the 1980s, but lake herring remained scarce. Under these circumstances, the rare lake herring would be increasingly likely to encounter abundant ripe bloaters during the overlapping spawning seasons of these species, increasing the probability for hybridization. Basic biological differences between the species, such as lower vulnerability of bloaters to commercial harvest, better survival of bloater fry, or greater fecundity of bloaters, may have contributed to the substantially better success of bloaters. Cisco populations are fragile; only the bloater has ever made a strong and sustained recovery after a severe decline. Hybridization with bloaters may impede the recovery of lake herring in Lake Huron.