Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Two new Black Bass Species in North America?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260323005532.htm

Fisheries Scientists/geneticist have been arguing about this for decades. What has changed is the greatly increased ability to measure genetic differences. There is a lot we don't know or understand about genetics in many species. IMO (unlearned as it is) just because one or 2 traits/genes are different does not make it a new species. Just look at all the different Centrarchidae trees/webs out there and the arguments some evoke.

When the "biological-species" concept was abandoned, what qualifies as a new species became subjective. The biological-species concept species means genetic separation from other species is great enough that gene transfer cannot occur. This means that speciation is a tree, not a web. This has practical implications to the endangered species act. While protecting races, subspecies, and strains may be desirable, I am not a supporter of calling these separate species. The "splitters" won out over the "lumpers" on this one.