Molecular Genetic Markers Identifying Hybridization between the Colorado River-Greenback Cutthroat Trout Complex and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout or Rainbow Trout

Abstract
We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers that are complementary to interspersed nuclear DNA elements to identify genetic markers capable of detecting hybridization between native Colorado River cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki pleuriticus (CRCT) or greenback cutthroat trout O. c. stomias (GCT) and introduced Yellowstone cutthroat trout O. c. bouvieri (YCT) or rainbow trout O. mykiss (RT). Using four different pair combinations of five PCR primers, we detected 6 genetic markers that distinguish CRCT from YCT (3 that are characteristic of CRCT and 3 that are characteristic of YCT) and 14 markers that distinguish CRCT from RT (9 characteristic of CRCT and 5 of RT). Likewise, we detected 5 genetic markers that distinguish GCT from YCT (2 characteristic of GCT and 3 of YCT) and 14 that distinguish GCT from RT (8 characteristic of GCT and 6 of RT). We did not, however, find markers that distinguish CRCT from GCT. This molecular genetic technique will thus be effective as a nonlethal means of ...