Genetic Identification of Cutthroat Trout, Salmo clarki, in Glacier National Park, Montana

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Abstract
Trout populations in 29 lakes in Glacier National Park were identified by meristic and electrophoretic analyses to assess the extent of introgressive hybridization between introduced nonnative trout and the indigenous cutthroat trout, Salmo clarki lewisi. Native cutthroat trout remain in 16 lakes draining to the North and Middle forks of the Flathead River; no native trout were found east of the Continental Divide. Introduced Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Salmo clarki bouvieri, occur in six headwater lakes. Hybrid populations, including both S. c. lewisi × bouvieri and S. clarki × S. gairdneri, inhabit six lakes. Hybridization between native and introduced trouts has been minimal, apparently due to strong selective pressures favoring the indigenous genotype. Close agreement was observed between the meristic and electrophoretic results.