Genomic divergence, local adaptation, and complex demographic history may inform management of a popular sportfish species complex.

The Neosho Bass (), a former subspecies of the keystone top-predator and globally popular Smallmouth Bass (), is endemic and narrowly restricted to small, clear streams of the Arkansas River Basin in the Central Interior Highlands (CIH) ecoregion, USA. Previous studies have detected some morphological, genetic, and genomic differentiation between the Neosho and Smallmouth Basses; however, the extent of neutral and adaptive divergence and patterns of intraspecific diversity are poorly understood. Furthermore, lineage diversification has likely been impacted by gene flow in some Neosho populations, which may be due to a combination of natural biogeographic processes and anthropogenic introductions.