Hybrid Wish List

My reply to Catt Mandu exceeded the character limit so I posted it on my blog... A Controversial Approach To Protecting Florida's Ghost Orchid

 

I just found this relatively recent (Feb 2014) paper on naturally occurring hybrids between Epidendrum species...

Multiple hybridization events, polyploidy and low postmating isolation entangle the evolution of neotropical species of Epidendrum (Orchidaceae)

As is to be expected, it's pretty dense reading. But I think this paragraph is the most relevant regarding the potential value of herclivation...

Based on future projection of their ecological niche, and given that conditions suitable for these hybrid zones will exist, the hybrid zones can therefore be seen as a source of raw material for natural adaptive change [61,62]. In this light, the definition of species should better focus on traits that lead to adaptation and conservation efforts should be targeted towards evolutionary processes that generate taxonomic biodiversity instead of preserving the taxonomic entities beyond these processes [63]. Although this strategy cannot be applied to all organisms, it certainly provides a good framework for determining evolutionarily important units [63,64] that are worthy of protection and management in species with complex reticulate scenarios, such as those in the present investigation.​

That makes perfect sense to me...and it provides some support for the validity of herclivation as a theory...but, unfortunately, I don't know if I'm capable of translating this paragraph into ordinary English.

Hmmm...actually, in my blog entry I shared one of Deng Xiaoping's favorite sayings...it doesn't matter if the cat is black or white...what matters if it catches mice. This is pretty close to the gist of the paragraph. There should be less focus on labels (species vs hybrids) and more focus on results (traits that confer fitness).