There are a few reasons I'd like to do it, in order from most to least:
1. It will be neat. I've just always wanted to have a neotenic tiger salamander.
2. I want to try to such a thing - I've always loved the idea of messing around with genetics, evolution, etc.
3.(Sell them both as the neotenic type, and the terrestrial hybrids.
4. Breeding a terrestrial tiger salamander with an axolotl will produce both morphing and non-morphing offspring. Two neotenic axolotl/tiger salamanders, I believe will produce about 25% terrestrial salamanders.
>>> Why is this awesome?
--> Because we currently can't breed terrestrial tiger salamanders very easily, and people harvest them from the wild. If you have two axolotl/tiger hybrids, some of the offspring will morph creating terrestrial adults that can be sold, with out harming natural populations. Additionally, they can and will (if I have much to do with it, I'm not sure how dedicated I am to it just yet) will mix and morph with Albinos, Leutistic, golden, etc giving terrestrial salamanders tons of different looks, increased demand, etc... same with make for many (hopefully) different looking axolotls. This might hopefully make it more favorable to buy a cool GFP pink blotchy tiger salamander instead of taking one out of the wild.
3. I want to create controversy to help people realize how asinine certain aspects of conservation is. Why do we care about pure inbred axolotls? The genes will continue on through out hybrids, and possibly increase demand and interest as a pet -- this could in turn should cause increased interest in preserving and keeping the wild ones wild and whatever.
4. I want to create discussion about what a species really is - since IMO an Axolotl, and a Tiger Salamander is the same species. If they can breed, and produce fertile offspring = same species. Just a bit different. its a subspecies. This is analogues to Africans and Asians. Why aren't they considered different species, but various types of tiger salamanders are not? Its just silly.
I personally hate that they try to kill the "invasive" tiger salamander and its hybrids from the California tiger. The California tiger salamanders genes are still passed on, and since it is now more fit to survive, there will be more of them, in more places, etc...
Who the hell cares if it now slightly different genetics and different features?
Also, to address the "messing with evolution" thing - I am part of evolution. Its stupid to make this false distinction between nature and human. We evolved just like the salamanders did.
Our highways, as natural as a rain forest.
Me mixing two types of tiger salamanders genetics together is also just as natural.
And it helps form symbiotic relationships with other organisms and other ecosystems.
It helps more salamanders propagate their genes, more people learn and experience the science or pet hobby of keeping caudatas.
So much good comes from this in my opinion, and hopefully I can make some money while doing it -- I'd love to hear arguments on why we should try to preserve the inbred genetics of the domesticated "probably can't survive in the wild" Axolotl (Ambystoma domestica), but I have a feeling I will be able to blow them out of the water (the ideas, not the axolotls!
) and probably convince and convert a lot of you that are currently Anti-alteration to being pro-alteration.
