07-06-2006, 06:18 AM
Just about all captive breeding programs like those for the Nene, CA Condor, and 'Alala (Hawaiian Crow) are certainly feeling their way as they go. These all started late in the decline of each species and the gene pool is certainly very limited. The risks are great that some kind of affliction will wipe them all out or that the remaining population will be genetically weak in some way. But the hope is that if you can maintain the population long enough, preferably in the wild and in separate geographic locations, they will begin to develop different strengths and weaknesses and on the whole become a more viable species. There is also a small possibility that they might even evolve more that one species.
There is a couple, Peter and Rosemary Grant, who have been researching the finches in the Galapagos Is., often referred to as Darwin's Finches. These are actually composed of seven or so different species. What the Grant's (and their assistants) have been observing is evolution in a timeframe of less than 25 years. (It's no longer just a theory, folks.) It's being measured and documented and it doesn't take thousands of years. You can read about it in Jonathan Weiner's book "Beak of the Finch".
To bring this back closer to on-topic, it has been said that if Darwin had visited the Hawaiian Is., instead of the Galapagos, his thoughts about evolution would have jelled much quicker because the evidence here is much clearer.
Good birds to you all.
Les C
There is a couple, Peter and Rosemary Grant, who have been researching the finches in the Galapagos Is., often referred to as Darwin's Finches. These are actually composed of seven or so different species. What the Grant's (and their assistants) have been observing is evolution in a timeframe of less than 25 years. (It's no longer just a theory, folks.) It's being measured and documented and it doesn't take thousands of years. You can read about it in Jonathan Weiner's book "Beak of the Finch".
To bring this back closer to on-topic, it has been said that if Darwin had visited the Hawaiian Is., instead of the Galapagos, his thoughts about evolution would have jelled much quicker because the evidence here is much clearer.
Good birds to you all.
Les C