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1 <br />16 <br />occurrence of hybrid phenotypes in the Diamond-Y outflow that they eradicated <br />the contamination. We regret that Dr. Suttkus had not had similar results <br />when demonstrating the presence of C. variegatus in the creek near the High- <br />way 18 bridge. That afternoon we repeated the sampling effort (three times) <br />in the Monsanto Well area and examined the circumstances downstream. <br />The downstream locations showed no contamination except for the pool <br />at the Highway crossing where a few fish with possible hybrid phenotypes <br />were eliminated. The third day effort was concentrated in the Monsanto <br />Well area (two times) and a sample from the pool by Highway 18 contained <br />no suspected hybrids. Our efforts at Monsanto Well clearly were less <br />productive on successive days and few possibly contaminated fish were <br />found by the third day. <br />We returned 11 August, 1978 to assess the situation. We found no <br />obvious hybrid phenotypes but again eliminated those few (ca 2%) within <br />the C. bovinus phenotype but at the edge of its phenotypic variation <br />most closely approaching C. variegatus. Variation within the sample was <br />minimal and apparently the C. bovinus phenotype prevailed in the <br />entire water course. The phenotypic extremes, hybrid and putative C. <br />bovinus, occupied different habitats during our sampling, eurythermal <br />and quiet water vs stenothermal and current, respectively. It is <br />possible that natural selection was a major contributant to the rever- <br />sion to the C. bovinus phenotype. Predation by the centrarchids, <br />Lepomis cyanellus and Micropterus salmoides may further refine that <br />selection as young of both species (with fish in their guts) were <br />found near Monsanto Well in our August 1978 samples. <br />On occasion, extensive flow from the upper segment enters the <br />Monsanto Well area. A large pool (or dry hole) is at the upper end of <br />the Monsanto Well region. This pool results from water flowing over a <br />clay bank creating a 0.3 meter high cataract when the pool is full. In <br />August 1978 that pool had a typical Monsanto Well ichthyofauna but the <br />creek immediately above had a vastly different assemblage dominated by <br />Fundulus. Extensive efforts produced no Cyprinodon. Apparently, Fundulus <br />could swim up over the cataract but not Cyprinodon. The Echelles made <br />similar observations the previous July. It is therefore unlikely that <br />lower Leon Creek pupfish are able to populate the upper segment in sub- <br />stantial numbers. Downstream gene flow seems likely (as occurred with <br />Lepomis and Micropterus). <br />The homogenous Cyprinodon in Leon Creek could have resulted from <br />selection (either ours or natural) for a C. bovinus like genome. Simi- <br />larly, a breeding system with sexual preference for novel individuals <br />would tend to reduce chance diversity. Loiselle's demonstration of <br />preference for Cyprinodon nevadensis or C. macularius males over C. <br />bovinus males by C. bovinus females would, if extended to C. variegatus <br />males, result in substantial hybridization (= Dr. Echelle's November <br />1975 observations). Any hybrid hatched near the highway bridge that <br />dispersed away from the bridge would then be a novel individual in that <br />new environment and again have a mate selection advantage. Eventually <br />the dispersants would reach the two ends of the stream and no longer be <br />able to enter a population not previously exposed to any C. variegatus <br />phenotype (no matter how dilute). Subsequently mating of opposites <br />would result in uniformity in successive generations. Each unique <br />fish would most often mate with the other extreme or in effect produce <br />an intermediate. Random mating would occasionally result in pairing