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<br />Dowling and DeMarais (1993) reported that introgressive hybridization <br />played an important role in creating a high morphological diversity among <br />Gila minnows in western North America. Dowling and DeMarais stated that <br />the Colorado River Gila represent a complex of self-sustaining, <br />genetically distinctive species that are capable of exchanging genetic <br />material, comparable to syngameons in plants. Although the phylogenetic <br />linkages are distinct, local introgression has clearly occurred among <br />three Colorado River Gila in the past. <br />The bonytail broodstock at the Dexter National Fish Hatchery, New Mexico, <br />originated from 18 individuals that were obtained from Lake Mohave between <br />1976 and 1981 and were subsequently supplemented with 6 additional adults <br />in 1988 (Minckley et al. 1989). Twenty-four second generation bonytails <br />contained six polymorphic loci and the heterozygosity was comparable to <br />mean values reported for other western North American cyprinids. Minckley <br />et al. (1989) concluded that the genetic variability of the Lake Mohave <br />broodstock was suitable for restoration stocking into appropriate natural <br />environments. <br />C.. Current Trends of Presumptive Stocks. Current trends of presumptive <br />stocks of the endangered Colorado River fishes were based on the criteria <br />of identified spawning sites, successful recruitment, relative stock <br />status, potential for catastrophic risk, and probability for extinction <br />(Table 2). <br />D. Current Status of Presumptive Stocks. The current status of presumptive <br />stocks of endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin is concisely <br />summarized in the following summary. <br />Razorback sucker Critical - Old individuals in current presumptive <br />stocks are declining rapidly. The presumptive stock <br />in the middle Green River between the confluence with <br />the Duchesne and Yampa rivers is low but some <br />recruitment occurs in this reach as indicated by the <br />presence of small fish (<475 mm). However, this re- <br />cruitment is not sufficient to maintain a self- <br />sustaining population of this species in that river <br />reach. <br />Bonytail Nearly extirpated in the upper basin; only occasional <br />individuals are captured very infrequently (i.e., <br />years between captures). Broodstocks will have to be <br />developed from Lake Mohave stock for restoration <br />stocking in the upper basin. <br />Humpback chub Apparently stable but stocks are small in isolated <br />deep canyon areas; stocks in Black Rocks and <br />Westwater Canyons on the Colorado River may be at <br />catastrophic risk since a railroad tract is close to <br />the river at this site and there is a potential of an <br />accident such as a chemical spill. Stocks in <br />Desolation-Gray Canyons and in the Yampa River <br />exhibit large variation in phenotypes and may be at <br />risk from hybridization from roundtail chubs. <br />13