<< It's not uncommon in nature for animals to live in arrangements such
that
most of the conspecifics they meet are close relatives. In cases like
this,
any "bad" genes are quickly removed from the gene pool, and further
inbreeding
is harmless.>>
Perhaps, but with no certainty. With the tendency for so many species of
animals to have their habitats destroyed or altered, I am sure this happens
to a great degree with a number of species, whereby species are shut off to
the permeation of genetically new creatures. This hobby is essentially 35
years old in the US, and it is difficult to ascertain theories which apply
to a millenium of factors, millions of years of evolutionary events, and
other unknown issues. But in a hobby with limited resources, a feeble
understanding of inbreeding, and the tendency to develop blanket statements
for a family of nearly 1000 species/subspecies, who really wants to test
inbreeding? We pride ourselves in producing quality offspring with an a
ppropriate number of limbs. There are already concerns of inbreeding
surrounding certain species of Rhacodactylus, that have certainly never
been inbred to the 30th generation. Some species are undeniably more
sensitive to such practices. Most people are in this hobby for a short
period of time, whereby their experiences (largely) cannot be accurately
calculated and inserted into any definitive equations. For yet others who
keep geckos for a few years, then on to monitors and a few select pythons,
then on to something else new and exciting, their experiences are also
plagued with shortcomings. For the remainders, who by various reasons, stay
in the 'gecko hobby' for years, we are limited by their attentiveness to
such particulars and the accuracy/error thereof. We as gecko breeders have
a lot to learn, and apparently the need to convince ourselves that such
pitiful simplicity cannot apply to a multitude of species remains.
Although never recorded, I am certain that many E. macularius have been
inbred to ear-ringing levels. Yet they are members of an entirely
different tribe (Family), Eublepharinae, so distinct that some authors
consider them as much geckos as do others in lumping geckos and pygopods
together.
<< An extreme example are island endemic species, in which the entire
population
for the history of the species may never have been more than a few dozen
individuals>>
A tendency for waif species introduced into a new environment, such as a
hitherto non-colonized island, is to not only inbreed but speciate under
the new pressures of the environment (ie. Tarentola in the Americas). By
the way, where did the few dozen individuals come from? During this
fertile time in which so much is available, via breeders and importers, it
would be foolish to not take advantage of the opportunities of acquiring
further 'bloodlines'.
Lastly, it may be said that some species, and perhaps many species, may be
inbred without defects for an alarming number of generations. But when the
possibility for additional gene lines close and defects set in what to do
next? In an ideal sense, why knowingly or unknowingly subject our colonies
and hobby to the known problems associated with inbreeding? The short
answer is, like David Lawrence said " there are problems inherent with
inbreeding (ALMOST) anything!! It should be avoided whenever possible."
Jon
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