Wild brook trout in the Loyalsock Creek watershed show few genes from hatchery fish, despite many years of the introduction of the stocked trout into those streams, according to a Penn State University study.
Shannon White, a doctoral student and the lead researcher in the study, said the finding is important because it uncovers the potential effects on wild trout populations from hatchery-raised fish.
“This was the first study that we are aware of that looked at genetic introgression on wild brook trout in an actively stocked watershed,” she said. “We were somewhat surprised to find more than nine of the 10 fish we evaluated had the wild trout genotype, because similar studies of wild salmon, rainbow trout and other salmonoids have shown significant genetic introgression from stocked fish.”
Dave Rothrock, of Jersey Shore, said he agreed with the research, but would like to see a more extensive study that reveals the overall impact of stocked brook trout on native populations…
Recent Comments