Releasers - Anne Kilmer couldn't possibly be more wrong!

[Paul Cherubini]

Xi Wang wrote:
 
> Another issue is that releasing butterflies disturbs the natural
> evolution of the local population by introducing new genes and diluting out the
> current ones.  You're essentially artificially removing interbreeding barriers
> between populations.

Yes, but only Monarchs and Painted Ladies are bred and released in 
by commercial breeders in substantial numbers and these are both wide 
ranging, migratory butterflies without any geographically isolated local 
populations.  Here are some findings of a new monarch genetics study that 
was published last year:
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/pgi-l.jpg.jpg
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/Idh-l.jpg.jpg

Paul Cherubini

 
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