07-17-2012, 08:25 AM
Looks like 2012 is turning out to be a good year for state records!
But yes, genetic analysis would be able to identify this fish as a brook trout or a splake. I believe the quickest and cheapest way would be through PCR and gel electrophoresis techniques. I don't know for sure, but that is one possible method out of many.
Whether or not the caudal fin is forked is NOT always a reliable identifier. They have had issues with this in Lake Superior with some fish that were impossible to clearly identify as brookies/splakes/lakers, but genetic analysis did the trick. http://www.glsc.usgs.gov/main.php?conten...crosslakes They were also concerned that the splake might have been reproducing as well. Although splake are often said to be sterile, due to the close relatedness of brook and lake trout, they are actually genetically stable hybrids and are capable of reproduction. It is very rare in the natural environment because of behavioral issues, but has been documented in a handful of lakes in Ontario. This has lead some to speculate that it is possible that a fish could be 1/4 laker and 3/4 brook trout (instead of 50/50) in waters where brookies and splake cohabitate, making identification even more difficult.
There is another simple alternative to identifying brookies from splake that has been used with great success. Just cut open the belly and count the pyloric caeca (appendages) of the stomach. Brook trout have about 50 or less. Splake have 65-85. Lake trout have 90+.
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But yes, genetic analysis would be able to identify this fish as a brook trout or a splake. I believe the quickest and cheapest way would be through PCR and gel electrophoresis techniques. I don't know for sure, but that is one possible method out of many.
Whether or not the caudal fin is forked is NOT always a reliable identifier. They have had issues with this in Lake Superior with some fish that were impossible to clearly identify as brookies/splakes/lakers, but genetic analysis did the trick. http://www.glsc.usgs.gov/main.php?conten...crosslakes They were also concerned that the splake might have been reproducing as well. Although splake are often said to be sterile, due to the close relatedness of brook and lake trout, they are actually genetically stable hybrids and are capable of reproduction. It is very rare in the natural environment because of behavioral issues, but has been documented in a handful of lakes in Ontario. This has lead some to speculate that it is possible that a fish could be 1/4 laker and 3/4 brook trout (instead of 50/50) in waters where brookies and splake cohabitate, making identification even more difficult.
There is another simple alternative to identifying brookies from splake that has been used with great success. Just cut open the belly and count the pyloric caeca (appendages) of the stomach. Brook trout have about 50 or less. Splake have 65-85. Lake trout have 90+.
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