Re: Line breeding vs hybridization

From: "Ron Iles" roniles at eircom.net> on 2001.06.21 at 20:12:24(6809) Dear Jim, Wonderful to have your wisdom. The choice of Symphysodon in retrospect now seems apt. As a species with narrow environmental tolerances from in-numerable habitats in a massive area, it seems critical to keep forms, sub-species, strains, from the countless wild locations distinct. Given the systems of collection & exportation, this is at least difficult. Countless different strains of "brighter" fishes selected from all over the undefined wild are used "domestically" to interbreed and then inbreed (line-breed) even brighter "hybrids" with no known pedigrees or common origins. The innumerable "wild" strains are not domestically pure bred in communities. Genetic integrity is lost from the moment of collection. I submit that the genus exemplifies how sub-species & ecological niche integrity is irretrievably lost on a vast scale before hybridisation. This is the way I view the distressing unconcern of some animal culture & horticulture for either the origin or plight of wild species. If the security of wild species IS assured I care not whether or not they are hybridised or inbred or both. I do love the best German "hybrid" strains and both two wild species but I detest the gaudy designer Discus which retain little of the aristocracy of their more ancient ancestry. Which species of Spathiphyllum do they still grow in the Aquarium? Sincerely +More | | | Dear Iza and Ron, | | You're both slightly off the mark. Ron is correct that the modern strains of | aquarium discus are the result of out-crossing between several subspecies of | Symphysodon aequifasciatus (there is little evidence that the second species | S. discus is involved in this effort). But Iza is correct that at this point | in time these "new" strains are frequently being line-bred for many | generations - even though newer outcrosses are still occurring. | | Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some of the strains are incredibly | beautiful, yet it will be tough to ever perfect upon the subtle colors and | patterns of S. aequifasciatus axelrodi! | | Jim Langhammer, retired Curator of Fishes |

Note: this is a very old post, so no reply function is available.