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from a lack of complete understanding of the genetics of the Scaphirhynchus species. Since then, <br />other studies have found that the cytochrome b locus was not useful for discriminating among some <br />congeneric fish species (Campton et al. 1995). Fain et al. (2000) found that the mitochondrial <br />cytochome b gene was not useful to distinguish species with Scaphirhynchus as well as two other <br />species groups within the sturgeon genus Acipenser. <br />Campton et al. (1995, 1999) conducted a comparative study of the mtDNA d -loop of the <br />Schaphirhynchus species. The d -loop is considered to be a rapidly evolving part of the genome. The <br />results support previous conclusions that a very close evolutionary relationship exists between the pallid <br />and the shovelnose sturgeon. However, the mtDNA markers utilized for this study were not useful as a <br />stand -alone tool for addressing hybridization questions because the mtDNA is inherited from the female <br />parent only (Campton et al. 1995). <br />Sloss et al. (in press) conducted microsatellite analyses of the Scaphirhynchus sturgeon and found that <br />the Scaphirhynchus species do not randomly select mates from throughout the whole population of <br />Scaphirhynchus. The data show that the shovelnose and pallid sturgeon are statistically different and <br />that significant all .le„ c fi Q� jenny— differences exist between pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon <br />populations, thus fuuther supporting the validity and protective status of the pallid sturgeon as a separate <br />species. <br />Most recently, Campton et al. (2000) conducted further studies on mtDNA, which indicate significant L-N �L <br />reproduction isolation between pallid and shovelnose sturgeon. They concluded that the mtDNA Oe ", <br />results provide the first molecular genetic evidence for distinguishing the Scaphirhynchus species, and, <br />coupled with current morphological and biogeographic data, indicate that pallid sturgeon should be <br />evaluated as a separate species under the ESA. <br />Historic and Current Range Wide Distribution <br />The historic range of pallid sturgeon as described by Bailey and Cross (1954) encompassed the middle <br />and lower Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the lower reaches of the Platte, Kansas, and <br />Yellowstone Rivers (Figure 5). Bailey and Cross (1954) noted a pallid sturgeon was captured at <br />Keokuk, IA, at the Iowa and Missouri state border. Duffy et al. (1996) stated <br />Status Range Wide -PS <br />