Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Show off your catch A couple from today.

Not saying this is the case for this pond but something to think about.

These results show that the natural variation in

pharyngeal morphology between these populations of pumpkinseeds is primarily the result of a

plastic response to the environment, rather than a response to selection driven by the environmental

differences.
Thus, although our results provide no evidence of a genetic basis for variation in functional

morphology, the observed phenotypic plasticity represents an important mechanism

that can mould a fish�s morphology to the resource base of a lake. Ultimately, this would be

most adaptive if reduced crushing morphology resulted in the more efficient use of softbodied

prey. To date, we have no evidence for such a trade-off in pumpkinseed, although

work on its sister species, the redear sunfish, has shown that such a trade-off exists (Huckins,

1997; see also Ehlinger, 1990; Schluter, 1995; Robinson et al., 1996, for other examples

of trade-offs).