Hello NANFAites,
There has been several topics lately that discuss centrarchid hybrids. Attached is a PDF of our recent study that uses centrarchid hybrids in an attempt to understand the evolutionary mechanisms of speciation. Our focus is on post-mating (pre-zygotic) isolation, and we are interested how genetic differences that prevent viable or fit hybrids accumulate in lineages. This research has broad applications to many different groups of plants and animals.

In this paper we find a very interesting pattern that may explain observed assymmetry of hybrid viability in some between species crosses.

This paper illustrates our goals of bringing North American fishes to the attention of a broad community of evolutionary biologists, with the hope of developing centrarchids as a model system to understand the mechanisms of speciation.

Tom Near

Looking at the family tree, it seems a mix up occurred. Sacramento perch has the same genus as mud sunfish. Yet way on either end of the tree. Sure it was just a typo.

What I love about these DNA study resultant trees, they seem to fit nearly perfectly with what one sees if they spend enough time immersed in these species. You just see it, like telling brothers in a family from their cousins. They just look more alike than their fathers brothers kids.

Our minds are wired to see this in people, and it seems you can adapt that to things of interest. You just see the relationship.

You are correct, indeed a typo. We will get it sorted out with the journal.

Attached is the study that estimated the phylogeny and divergence times using DNA data and the centrarchid fossil record.

Thanks for posting these. I have been waiting to see them for a while now.