Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!ncar!boulder!uswat!zeb!timw
From: timw@zeb.USWest.COM
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: RE: Transfer of Instincts through Genetics
Message-ID: <1681@uswat.UUCP>
Date: 22 Feb 89 14:55:17 GMT
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Reply-To: timw@zeb.USWest.COM ()
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Thanks for the responses to me query regarding the transfer of 
instincts and other behavioral traits to succeeding generations
through genetics.  

I'm puzzled. 

If we agree that an animal is born with certain instinctive 
characteristics (do we agree on this ?, leave homo sapien out
of the picture, whole 'nother topic ?), I contend that genetically
defined information determining these characteristics ABSOLUTELY
MUST be transferred to the offspring. 

Where did this information originate ? I don't think it happened 
overnight. Some salmonid at some point had to have learned that 
if it didn't swim away from a shadow, it would be Osprey lunch.
The Osprey missed this first 'instinct void' fish because it was old 
and feable.   

So, unless we're talking creationism vs. evolution, instincts are
(1) learned and 2) passed on (IMVHO). Further, I conclude that,
a wild, sulf-sustaining population of trout, in a strict catch 
and release zone, will become very difficult to catch, and when
caught will not fight well.  In the relatively short term (3 to 4
generations of fish, 8-15 years), these fish will be wary, at the
very least, but not necessarily because their parents were wary
(of fly-fishermen tactics), but because that group of fish that
more pronouncedly avoids fishermen will survive. There WILL be some
mortality resultant from our catch and release methodologies.
You can't aim a hook at a fish's brain 100 times and expect it not 
to get hurt.

In the relatively medium term (15-100 years), this fishery will be
called 'challenging', 'sporting' and 'difficult'. In the case
of an extremely pressured (by fishermen) fishery, this population
will experience an over-population, since the natural predators 
have been thinned by human presence. Thus mortality by disease and
starvation will increase (cyclic).

In the relatively long term (100-10000 years), the fish will become
more and more difficult to catch, and will be very poor fighters as
it is not beneficial to expend the energy. Sportfishing for trout 
in this fishery will be extremely difficult and not rewarding.

But, what other problems will impact the fishery in the meantime ?

Tim Walker
Littleton, Colorado