Status of an Introgressed Guadalupe Bass Population in a Central Texas Stream

Abstract

Abstract Introductions of nonnative smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu into central Texas streams resulted in introgressive hybridization with an endemic allopatric congener, the Guadalupe bass M. treculii. The objectives of this study were to use the variation at 14 microsatellite DNA loci to examine the frequencies of Guadalupe bass, smallmouth bass, and their hybrids 10 years after supplemental stockings of Guadalupe bass in the Blanco River. Genetic analysis identified 40% of individuals as smallmouth bass, 51% as smallmouth bass × Guadalupe bass hybrids, and 9% as other Micropterus hybrids. Pure Guadalupe bass were not collected. Despite supplemental stocking, the frequency of pure Guadalupe bass appears to have declined in the Blanco River in the past 10 years. These results emphasize the need for a current survey of the genetic status of the species throughout its native range.