Dayrl G. Ellison

Dynamics of Hybrid Sunfish in Southern Illinois Farm Ponds

Control of population density in southern Illinois farm ponds was achieved by stocking F, hybrid sunfish of the male bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) X female green sunfish (L. cyanellus) and the male redear sunfish (L. microlophus) X female green sunfish with largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Four of 30 ponds sampled were contaminated by nondesirable species from the watershed. Little or no recruitment of the F, generation occurred in ponds containing largemouth bass. In those populations where the hybrids were supplementally fed and bass were present, the F, bluegillX green sunfish...