Steelheads

Listening to the radio this morning I heard one of the most amazing stories that I can recall. It defies logic and nature. I am desperately trying to tie it into a strategy model - lets see how I do later.

In Washington state there is a bountiful supply of Salmon. They fall into two distinct types - Rainbow and Steelheads. It seems that new born salmon make a decision about what species they want to be at hatching. Either they turn up stream and become a Rainbow and grow to about 5 lb's maximum or they turn downstream and head out to sea where they grow upto 20lbs and become Steelheads. Here is the amazing part. Two rainbows mating can produce a Steelhead and in turn (as a thank you) two Steelheads can produce a Rainbow. This is one of the biggest enigma's in aquatic science to the point where something unbelievable has been suggested. A forced extintion of Steelheads to see if the population would re-emerge in the future.

This story is just sensational. That a species can choose to give birth to another is overwhelming.

There is no strategic angle here - unless you can think of one. Maybe there is a genetic angle for the biotech industry to create superhumans (I can feel a new comic strip hero - Steelhead - already brewing inside me).

Chris

Comments

[Phil Bowermaster]

Wow, can this be right? There must actually be only one species...salmon. Also, can a rainbow mate with a steelhead? (I guess there's no opportunity to try it.)