Hybrid Shark Discovered Down Under

Not exactly somethin' any of us would be keepin' at home, but interesting nonetheless. Have always found hybridization as a path to speciation interesting; my first real field work as an undergrad involved mule deer, white tails and the hybrids between.

WYite

Cool! If you need some white tails let me know, we have more then you could imagine.

steve535 wrote:

Cool! If you need some white tails let me know, we have more then you could imagine.

Don't want any more out here! Whitetail hunting quotas here in Wyoming have been increased to numbers that I would have never believed 20 years ago. With everything I've read 'bout whitetail overpopulation back yer way, sounds like a reintroduction of Puma concolor is whatcha need back east.

This study was 20 some years ago, and was actually aimed at predicting the effects encroaching whitetail populations and hybridization would have on mule deer populations. Unfortunately, the effects the prof I was workin' for predicted are coming true: rapid expansion of whitetail range and population, a consequent reduction in mule deer populations and a decrease in mule deer range, and a decrease in the genetic purity of large populations of mule deer in areas where the species share common habitat. Behavioral differences prevent buck mulies from competing successfully for mates with buck whitetails. Whitetails rut earlier and are more aggressive in pursuing does. Whitetail does also tend to walk during copulation, where mulie does don't. Whitetail bucks can maintain copulation with a doe that doesn't move forward, but mulie bucks are unable to maintain with a doe that moves while mating. The hybrids are almost always the result of a buck whitetail and doe mulie. The end result is that in areas with high populations of both, mule deer are slowly being absorbed into the whitetail population, and the genetic lines possessed by mule deer bucks are slowly vanishing. In my opinion, a rather sad and ignominious fate for what is likely the youngest evolutionary species on the continent.

Probly more than ya wanted to know Steve, LOL. My focus was Wildlife Management, though I settled for a standard Zoology degree, and large mammals are still a passion of mine that rivals my aquariums.

Ivan

Ok, Here is my 2 cents on the white tail. In northern NJ hunting is limited to one buck a year and one week of doe hunting with a separate tag. It is Very built up over here on the east coast and they ( the deer) have NO natural predators. Auto's and starvation is mother natures way of thinning the herd. Black bear is also becoming a problem. The fish and game allowed 600 permits for them this fall. They scare the hell out of you when your walking through the woods.