Astrid Kodric-Brown is investigating mating habits of fish in UNM's Biology Department.
Daily Lobo: Could you tell me a little bit about what you are studying at UNM?
Astrid Kodric-Brown: Sure. I am studying these fish called pupfish. I have some live examples downstairs (at Castetter Hall). There are some interesting problems with these fish - for instance, the Pecos pupfish, whose habitat was the Pecos River here in New Mexico, are not there anymore because they have been replaced by hybrids.
DL: What is a hybrid?
AB: The hybrids actually were introduced into the Pecos River by humans. They are created from sheepshead minnow, whose natural habitat is in the Gulf of Mexico, that mate with the Pecos pupfish females. The sheepshead minnow was introduced by humans who brought the fish over through man-made rivers. When the sheepshead minnow was released into the Pecos River, within seven years, we found a swarm of hybrid fish.
DL: So why do you want to study the pupfish?
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AB: I am interested in how to maintain species integrity - I want to know how likely a species is to mate with a close relative. I am looking for behavioral mechanisms like mate choice, male competition and also the likelihood that hybrids are going to survive. Very often hybrids seem to be - and especially in this case - hybrids are actually more vigorous.
DL: Why do you think they do so well?
AB: The behavioral mechanisms that influence these hybrids are simply that the female Pecos pupfish prefer the males of the sheepshead minnow. With what we see, there is little species integrity. I am interested in conservation issues, like underlining reasons that allow some species to hybridize and why some will hold onto their species integrity.
DL: How important is your research for students and future generations?
AB: I would say that New Mexico has a very interesting and unique fish diversity and that students should pay attention to it. I think that it is clear that these fish are worth knowing and researching and that the more that we can inevitably find out about these fish and the way that they are, the easier it is going to be to find solutions to keep this species around.
~ Michael Westervelt
