09-08-2014, 03:24 PM
[quote TyeDyeTwins ]
Indeterminate Growth! Genetics for size are not passed down to the offspring.[/quote]
Genetics for size ARE passed down. But you are correct with indeterminate (vs. determinate) growth. Fish are NOT mammals. Mammals are "determinate" growers. We know that when an elephant is born that it will grow larger throughout it's lifetime become a giant of an animal. Fish, however, are "indeterminate" growers. They are very "plastic". they do NOT necessarily grow larger throughout their life. They may, infact, grow smaller based off environmental factors. They still have the "big" genetics, but they may not grow big. Or they may. Or they may shrink.
Just look a the pilot peak lahontan's.
so, as tyedye is saying: harvesting the big fish doesn't mean that you'll harvest the "big" genetics out of the population. Those small fish have the same genetics and potential for growing large. Those fish at Lee's Ferry have that same potential to grow large as did those fish in the 70's. The difference? There's too damn many of them!!
Genetics are NOT the limiting factor for potential size in our fish here in Utah. (with maybe one exception)
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Indeterminate Growth! Genetics for size are not passed down to the offspring.[/quote]
Genetics for size ARE passed down. But you are correct with indeterminate (vs. determinate) growth. Fish are NOT mammals. Mammals are "determinate" growers. We know that when an elephant is born that it will grow larger throughout it's lifetime become a giant of an animal. Fish, however, are "indeterminate" growers. They are very "plastic". they do NOT necessarily grow larger throughout their life. They may, infact, grow smaller based off environmental factors. They still have the "big" genetics, but they may not grow big. Or they may. Or they may shrink.
Just look a the pilot peak lahontan's.
so, as tyedye is saying: harvesting the big fish doesn't mean that you'll harvest the "big" genetics out of the population. Those small fish have the same genetics and potential for growing large. Those fish at Lee's Ferry have that same potential to grow large as did those fish in the 70's. The difference? There's too damn many of them!!
Genetics are NOT the limiting factor for potential size in our fish here in Utah. (with maybe one exception)
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