TIMOTHY HODGE AND RONALD L. JOHNSON, Arkansas State University, Department of Biology, State University, Arkansas 72467, USA

Geographic isolation and habitat specialization has aided in the evolution of and genetic integrity of the Micropterid bass species of North America. Extensive stockings of introduced species into waters previously containing native species has resulted in numerous hybridization events and loss of vigor of many natural bass populations. Our goal was to determine the genetic distance between the largemouth, smallmouth and spotted basses using mitochondrial DNA analysis. This will provide baseline information for future comparisons with the other Micropterid bass species having more restrictive ranges. Mitochondrial DNA was examined in 15 largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, 15 smallmouth bass M. dolomieui and 15 spotted bass M. punctulatus using 13 restriction endonucleases. The smallmouth and spotted basses had the closest genetic similarity, which would be predicted by the numerous reports of hybridization between these two species. No evidence of past hybridization events was observed for the 45 individuals of the present study.