Posted by:
RichardFHoyer
at Fri Dec 5 15:19:35 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by RichardFHoyer ]
Chris:
From my understanding of disease/parasite introduction into wild populations, the subject (potential problems) has been blown well out of proportion to the risk they pose. That is why I did not consider this point as a major reason against
re-release of native species into habitat already occupied by the same species.
Clearly the pathogen introduction point should be considered but in the context of each individual situation. And whether the pathogen/parasite is of exotic or native origin is a point to be considered. The former is akin to releasing non-native or exotic species whereas the latter is essentially a non-issue as far as I am concerned. The introduction (accidental) of the West Nile Virus is an example of the an exotic pathogen being introduced. The virus is mainly a bird pathogen but can cross to other groups an even humans but is highly unlikely to cause any species to become threatened with extinction let alone reduced to the point of great concern. But the jury is still out on that situation so I could stand to be in error.
That being said, there literally have been millions upon millions of released individual organisms in the U.S, invertebrates and vertebrates, legal and illegal, including both native and non-native species plus accidental escapes, and yet problems with pathogens/parasites has been minute.
The release of native snakes (or other native species) with native pathogen/parasites is a non-issue as the wild populations have been selected for eons to cope with such organisms.
Richard F. Hoyer
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RE: Ringneck crosses - RichardFHoyer, Fri Dec 5 15:19:35 2003