genetics

[MasSalvaje]

Speaking on tetrataenia in the wild, I think we are looking at this problem from the view of pet owners and not what is necessarily the best for the tetrataenia population. Not to say that all points made are wrong on the matter but there are so many variables that frankly cannot be discussed here. It is not as simple as collecting a few specimens, getting them to breed, and then releasing them into the wild. The number one reason for population decline in the SanFran is habitat loss, until that problem is fixed (very unlikely), captive breeding would be uneffective. It doesn't do any good to keep captive tetrataenia to pump into the wild population if there is no where to put them. Moreover creating captive populations could possibly lead to even further drastic bottlenecking in the gene pool, making them more susceptible to declines in other areas in addition to the habitat loss. We are use to pairing off our snakes which is fine for the pet trade but in the wild a female will breed with multiple males every year and can use any or all of the males sperm to fertilize. That is a much more effective way of gene dispersal than any of us could achieve in captivity and exactly what the small population needs at this time to stay as strong as possible.

We shouldn't act on the matter just to say we are doing something. We need to make sure we are doing what is the very best for the species otherwise we might as well just do as Stefan said and freeze a few to use in the future.

-Thomas

[zooplan]

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gene...ght=sharp+park