Evidence of Salmo salar × Salmo trutta Hybridization in a North American River

Abstract

Electrophoretic examination of 57 wild Atlantic salmon (S. salar) and brown trout (S. trutta) from the Stewiacke River, Nova Scotia [Canada], revealed 1 individual believed to be a hybrid between these 2 spp. The possibility of loss of the genetic integrity of each species is considered. A long history of sympatry between Atlantic salmon and brown trout in Europe may have prevented the formation of hybrid swarms as occurred in western North America following introduction of non-indigenous Salmo.