The picture is a bit of an interesting choice – the headline is about interspecies mating, and the picture shows a human and a fish, with the person shrunk to nearly fish size. Now that’s really interspecies! Also intergenus, interfamily, interorder…

(Sorry about the off-topic post, I imagine for the shiners its a real problem).

My understanding of the word “species” is that members of different ones could only produc sterile offspring, if any at all. Yet the article quotes somebody as saying hybridization could result. The poorer the scientist the poorer the science. It’s a shame to see this happening on such an important subject.

RE: Evan1138

Your understanding of the word ‘species’ is incorrect. The American red wolf is a mixture of the grey wolf and the coyote. Mules are a result of the mating between donkeys and horses. Wikipedia contains a list of dozens of hybrid species.

The poorer the understanding, the poorer the explanation. Go back to the basics, Evan.

I understand why they use the term “native species” to describe this behavior having an effect on the population that was here before invading foreign species. The thing I dont get they use this term to speak on an evolutionary scale. Native or not the definition of evolution is about not being “native” anymore.

The “native” species is always undergoing change through time making the new species with the changes the “natvie” species. Whether it is because of un-intended consequences of BPA, or due to other non-human or human environmental factors.

Re: Mikee,

After my post I did some browsing and found there are at least four biologically-related definitions of “species”. Stay with me now.

* “Empirical” which means after a “really long time and lots of trying”, two lines never successfully interbreed to produce non-sterile offspring. So you can’t really prove the negative, that is, that the lines are of different species, you can only prove that they are of the same species. Mules (mare and male donkey) are the archetype of this dilemma. Mules are viewed as sterile, though maybe at 4 nines there might have been a successful mating between mule and a donkey or horse; no verified claims I could fine on this. On the other hand, with the hinny (horse and female donkey) there seem to be more plausible accounts of the offspring being able to breed, not with a mule of course, but with a donkey. That call is above my pay grade.

* “Taxonomical” which, simply put, is: “Wow, these lines look really really different and they come from really different places. So in my taxonomy I’m going to say they’re different species.” But with wolves, for example, though they may look different, turns out they can breed, so one level down the tree they go: They are varieties. Same with dogs which can look wildly different but can still breed, sometimes with pitiful but not sterile results.

* “Karyotypical” where you count the chromosomes, compare sizes and shapes. “Wow, are they ever different! Different species, for sure!”

And finally, my personal favorite:

“Inter-Kingdom” Nine out of ten times when you breed a donkey with an onion you get a long-eared onion. But every once in a while you get an ass that brings tears to your eyes.

Oops, forget one: If your parents didn’t have children, chances are you won’t either.

Ma says there’s no such thing as mermaids and them fish is from Georgia anyways.

U guys r too funny, I busted a rib laughing, please study a cure for cancers ok?

Re: dede

SPOILER ALERT:

Off topic posting. Gotta tell somebody about Lance, cancer and doping.

Seriously now, Lance Armstrong up on doping again? Seven Tour de France titles in a row, with closer and closer scrutiny for doping, Tour after Tour, that found absolutely nothing except one time some trace (non-violational) steroid residue from topical cream used on saddle sores, with an Rx from his doc. I agree that his record would be Big Suspicious except that Lance had 4 rounds of chemotherapy for simultaneous testicular, brain, and lung cancer before his first TdF win. If you have a friend who’s been through that… well, actually I doubt you do. Most people I know or have heard about decided to die with some awareness of self and family, rather than endure even a third round of chemo. Thing is, TdF- type cycling is about Big Big Endurance in the face of Big Big Pain. See where I’m going? If Lance could survive chemo 4x and so beat his cancer, it seems to me he might be able to beat the Pyrenees better than all the other riders. He may just be what he seems to be: A physically extraordinary guy beset by jealous jackals.

This might also explain why it didn’t work out with Sheryl Crow. Too much endurance to keep to one friend. Reminds me of my college roomie. Different voice crying out every damn night. Couldn’t sleep, might as well watch.