Thanks to all who responded to this topic. Some really good suggestions, however no clear-cut answers that will work for me at this time. Guessing that i will have to put this on the back burner, just for now. Thanks again. Regards, Ray
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- To: killietalk at aka_org
- Subject: Re: Species Maintenance
- From: Wright Huntley <huntley1 at home_com>
- Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2000 10:28:41 -0800
- Delivered-To: killieboy at webtv_net
- References: <26431-3A1EA518-2376 at storefull-104_iap.bryant.webtv.net>
Ray Suydam wrote: > > Okay, > Some very good points on this topic. > I have no plans to leave this "HOBBY" anytime soon. And i have > already found a few favorite killies that for one reason or another, i > plan on maintaining for a long time. > However, my question to the list concerns: How does one make an > educated guess one which other killiefish are in dire need of species > maintenance? That's a primary function of the SMC (Species Maintenance Committee) of the AKA. They collect population statistics for fish in the hobby. They should know about what we have. The KCC (Killifish Conservation Committee) then takes that input, applies a sorta objective standard, and picks some core species to formally support. The criteria tend to be "beautiful, easy to breed (hence likely to get ignored by experts) and original habitat lost (no new collections possible)." We have lost a number of species that fit that description, so the effort is to not repeat history we don't have to. The KCC has traditionally organized by genus (e.g., Fp.) or general type (e.g., SA Annuals), with a coordinator for each group, and they, in turn, organize species coordinators who are expected to recruit a few additional volunteers to keep the core fish species. As people move through these jobs, the system gets pretty loose at times. I think Dr. Art Leuterman (KCC Chair) has had some difficulty pulling all the strings of KCC back together, as some folks are lost for health reasons, some disappear, and some just seem to burn out and go away. [My view of this process from way out here on the Left Coast may be too myopic, IDK.] The temporary hiatus in the SMC activist role doesn't seem to help, either. I heard rumors, last year, of intentions to redefine all core species, but that's where the information stopped. > Keeping only the favorites seem so selfish. As far as the "formal" programs go, that's not how it happens. I *do* like small Fp., but wasn't even looking for walkeri when Roger Langton (then Fp. coordinator) asked me to take on the GH2 core species. I've been coordinating (more or less) small groups of breeders of them for about 4 years, now, and am getting ready to move on. F30 is far enough! Art and Tom, this is a great opportunity to chime in and correct any misconceptions I am leaving. Please? Freezing in Fremont (we think 60F is chilly) :-) Wright -- Wright Huntley, Fremont CA, USA, 510 612-1467 An aquarium is just interactive television for cats. --------------- See http://www.aka.org/AKA/subkillietalk.html to unsubscribe
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