Are the populations developing a more homogeneous gene pool after
generations in captivity? Definitely the way we're keeping rainbows
and many other species in the hobby. This can be considered bad and
good. If the objective is to develop a stable captive population for
aquarium keeping, what we're doing is the way to go. That is unless we
fix in a negative allele and wipe out the population. Or lock in a set
of alleles creating a fish that looks nothing like the wild
population. Mainly we've attempted to limit this affect by group
spawning rainbows. This slows down the loss to the gene pool, but its
still occurring.
The present form of the Species Maintenance in America is the
presently forming Breeders Circles. The plan is to get groups of
individuals keeping each species and strain. They would work to insure
we have enough stock and diversity to continue the species in
captivity. This make take the form of working to develop a stable
homogeneous gene pool with some species or maximum genetic diversity
with others. I'm planning on formalizing our goals at the RSG San
Francisco Convention, but am presently looking for people willing to
commit to keeping species.
later
Cary Hostrawser
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