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No evidence for ecological segregation protecting native trout from invasive hybridization

Ryan Kovach·Clint C. Muhlfeld·Robert K. Al-Chokhachy·Stephen J. Amish·Jeffrey L. Kershner·Robb F. Leary·Winsor H. Lowe·Gordon Luikart·Phil Matson·David Schmetterling·Bradley Shepard·Peter A. H. Westley·Diane Whited·Andrew R. Whiteley·Fred W. Allendorf
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Abstract

We appreciate the comments of Young et al. (2017) on our recent paper (Muhlfeld et al., 2017) concerning spatiotemporal dynamics of hybridization between native westslope cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi ; WCT) and introduced coastal rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus ; RBT). Nevertheless, we believe there is no evidence for “ecological segregation” protecting WCT from hybridization with invasive RBT. Here we consider their three major arguments for ecological segregation and find their conclusions invalid.

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Ryan Kovach, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Robert K. Al-Chokhachy, Stephen J. Amish, Jeffrey L. Kershner, Robb F. Leary, Winsor H. Lowe, Gordon Luikart, Phil Matson, David Schmetterling, Bradley Shepard, Peter A. H. Westley, Diane Whited, Andrew R. Whiteley, Fred W. Allendorf. 2017-08-17. No evidence for ecological segregation protecting native trout from invasive hybridization. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13825

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