Foxes That Endure Despite a Lack of Genetic Diversity

[petronius]

The Channel Islands, off the coast of Southern California, are a natural laboratory for a particularly adorable experiment in evolution.

A unique species called the island fox has lived there for several thousand years, shrinking over the generations until now each is smaller than a house cat. Adult island foxes weigh as little as 2.35 pounds.

Now a team of scientists has discovered another way in which island foxes are extraordinary: Genetically, they are nearly identical to one another. In fact, a fox community on one island has set a record for the least genetic variation in a sexually reproducing species.

--- Snip ---

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/26/science/channel-island-foxes-least-genetic-diversity.html

[northernsouthern]

1. That is horrible, has any told the fox? If so...

Thank you!!!! I will be here all night!

Also in the end of this mix...

[petronius]

3. Good question! Rick Astley would approve this post...

[Brother Buzz]

2. Most likely introduced by man 9000 years ago

Most courious.

[petronius]

4. I thought that was interesting; maybe foxes played a dog/pet role

for the Chumash and Tongva populations. (It's a little funny that the article posits a "spiritual relationship" based on paintings and ceremonial burials: my office is full of pictures of my cats, and many of my childhood pets received 'ritual' burials... )

[Brother Buzz]

5. That would be my guess

Revered because they were fun to be around, and certainly no threat, unlike the coyote or wolf that would have commanded respect.

Oh, Grace Hudson, early twentith century California painter operating out of Ukiah, painted a fine portrait of an Indian boy playing a flute with a fox at his feet, further proof the fox was totally accepted.

[petronius]

7. Thanks! I hadn't heard of Grace Hudson before, and I'm glad to see her work

http://americanartgallery.org/artist/details/view/sshow/id/220#pic=2624

I'm struck by the amount of personality and individuality in the faces of her various works, it seems like she had a real liking for, respect for, and relationship with her subjects...

[Brother Buzz]

8. Read her wiki page - it will blow your socks off

She was all that....and more.