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Reproductive Success of Natural Populations of Hybrid Sunfish in Three Minnesota Lakes
Author(s) -
Etnier David A.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1968)97[466:rsonpo]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - hybrid , biology , reproduction , fish <actinopterygii> , population , natural population growth , ecology , zoology , fishery , reproductive success , demography , botany , sociology
Several investigators have demonstrated the ability of certain hybrid sunfish to reproduce in controlled situations. Three lakes in northern Minnesota that contained large numbers of natural sunfish hybrids were investigated to determine the extent of reproduction of these fish in natural environments. Presence of living embryos in nests guarded by male hybrids indicated a potentially significant amount of reproduction by the hybrids. A comparison of the distribution of the ratio of pectoral fin length to jaw length for the populations involved suggested that few, if any, second generation hybrids were present in the adult population. It is suggested that reduced vigor or the inability to compete with other sunfishes prevented these fish from becoming an integral part of the total sunfish population.