Some differences are adaptive, or beneficial to the survival of individuals at particular locations. Geographically distinct populations may also have co-adapted genes that function well together, but not as well with genes from another location.
Genetic diversity is important in maintaining a healthy population.
Stock transfers, or movement of fish among basins, potentially threatens genetic diversity. However, few field studies have attempted to quantify the potential effects on fish populations. The first part of this project is a controlled, replicated experiment evaluating fitness traits of bass and bluegill. We will compare the fitness of fish of local origin to the fitness of fish crossbred from local and distant stock. The experiment uses fish from Illinois, the Lake Michigan drainage in Wisconsin, the upper Mississippi basin in Wisconsin, and the Hudson Bay drainage in Minnesota.