Rapid genetic identification of brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) and their hybrids

Hybridization can complicate the effective conservation of cryptic and morphologically similar species. Here we provide a rapid genetic method for the identification of pure-strain brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) and black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. We confirm earlier reports of introgressive hybridization among A. nebulosus and A. melas in Lake Erie, and reveal the presence of introgressed hybrids in Detroit River. Our method provides a prime example of the utility of internet-based genetic databases for the development of molecular tools in biological and environmental research, and suggests hybridization plays a larger role in the genetic structure of bullheads.